FYI: From 1788 to 1853 25,566 woman were transported to Australia. More than half of those were Irish. Amongst that number is over 4,000 who were taken and volunteered from orphan or work houses throughout Ireland. Their welcome was mixed, the propaganda preceding their arrival did much to create great difficulties for them. Still many settled into Colonial life and raised families in the new world. The Great Irish Famine Commemoration Committee's Outreach Program has a CD by Brendan Graham that includes 3 songs written by him - including his You Raise Me Up - and 3 tracks of narration that talk about history and his writing. They have created a very striking memorial in the grounds of the Hyde Park Barracks at the beginning of Macquarie Street, Sydney. I am (I hope) sure it would show on google earth. www.irishfaminememorial.org

JulieA

Very interesting. Since some of the transportees were undoubtedly Irish speakers, I've always wondered whether any Irish expressions made it into Australian English, as they did in North America and England. One possibility that has occurred to me is the Ozzie expression "Good on yeh", as a possible adaptation of the Irish Maith thú.

_________________
I'm not a native (or entirely fluent) speaker, so be sure to wait for confirmations/corrections, especially for tattoos.

At a guess I always think that our healthy cynical disregard for politicians and most people in authority has an Irish flavour to it. And lately, in playing with my grandchildren, one of the first games usually under 12 months, is passing something real or imaginary back and forth with: ta = thank you, and ta ta = please. Then again: going tattars = going out; and tattar = goodbye. It could just be babytalk that hangs on - but now every other Irish phrase I learn begins with: Ta - with a range of meanings????

Having fun with Irish Talk proverb a day - www.talkirish.com

JulieA