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IRISH FOLK CULTURE PAGE
Is cuma le fear na mbróg cá leagann sé a chos.
The man with the boots does not mind where he places his foot.
I gliobach í an chearc go dtógann sí a hál.
The hen has ruffled feathers until she rears her brood.
Giorraíonn beirt bóthar.
Two shorten the road.
Is beo duine gan a chairde ach ní beo duine gan a phíopa.
One may live without one's friends, but not without one's pipe.
Is gairid ár gcairt ar an saol seo.
Our lease on life is short.
Is glas na cnoic i bhfad uainn.
Distant hills look green.
Dearmad bhean an tí ag an gcat.
The cat benefits from the housewife’s negligence.
An bhean atá dóighiúil is furasta a cóiriú.
A handsome woman is easily dressed.
Tús na heagna eagla an Tiarna.
Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord.
Tosach sláinte codladh.
Sleep is the first sign of recovery.
Is teann madra ar a thairseacht féin.
Every dog is bold on its own doorstep.
Céard a dhéanfadh mac an chait ach luch a mharú?
What would the cat's son do but kill a mouse?
Bíonn gach tosach lag.
Every beginning is weak.
Déan an fál nó íocfaidh tú foghail.
Make the fence or you will pay for the plunder.
Múineann gá seift.
Need teaches a plan.
Ní dhéanfach an saol capall rás d'asal.
All the world would not make a racehorse from an ass.
Bíonn grásta Dé idir an diallait agus an talamh.
The grace of God is found between the saddle and the ground.
Ní bhíonn an rath ach mar a mbíonn an smacht.
There is no luck except where there is discipline.
Nollaig bhreá a dhéanann reilig teann.
A fat Christmas makes for a tight graveyard.
Ní théann na paidreacha agus na headraí le chéile.
Prayers and idle chatter don’t mix.
Is fearr glas ná amhras.
A lock is better than suspicion.
Meileann muilte Dé go mall ach meileann siad go mín.
The mills of God grind slowly but they grind finely.
Bíonn súil le muir ach ní bhíonn súil le tír.
There's hope from the ocean but none from the grave.— an emigrant's proverb.
Ní heaspa do díth carad.
There is no need like the lack of a friend.
Is gaire do bhean leithscéal ná a naprún.
An excuse is nearer to a woman than her apron.
An rud a líonas an tsúil líonann sé an croí.
What fills the eye fills the heart.
Is í an dias is troime is ísle a chromas a ceann.
It is the heaviest ear of grain that bends its head the lowest.
Is maith an scéalaí an aimsir.
Time is a great storyteller.
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Irish Toasts
Irish Sayings
Irish Blessings
Irish Proverbs
Irish words of wisdom and advice...
Irish Proverbs: Drinking
Dá fheabhas é an t-ól is é an tart a dheireadh.
Good as drink is, it ends in thirst.

Ní ólann na mná leann ach imíonn sé lena linn.
Women do not drink liquor but it disappears when they are present.

Is milis dá ól é ach is searbh dá íoc é.
It is sweet to drink but bitter to pay for.

Nuair a bhíos an braon istigh bíonn an chiall amuigh.
When the drop is inside the sense is outside.

An rud nach leigheasann im ná uisce beatha níl aon leigheas air.
What butter or whiskey does not cure cannot be cured.

Seachain teach an tabhairne nó is bairnigh is beatha duit.
Beware of the public house or limpets will be your food.

Is túisce deoch ná scéal.
A drink precedes a story.
Irish Proverbs: Work & Idleness
Mura gcuirfidh tú san earrach ní bhainfidh tú san fhómhar.
If you do not sow in the spring, you will not reap in the autumn.

Cé gur beag díol dreoilín caithfidh sé a sholáthar.
Little as a wren needs, it must gather it.

An té a dtéann cáil na mochéirí amach dó ní miste dó codladh go méanlae.
He who gets a name for early rising can stay in bed until midday.

Is olc an chearc nach scríobann di féin.
It is a bad hen that does not scratch for itself.

Obair ó chrích obair bean tí.
Work without end is housewife's work.

Dhá thrian den obair í an chosúlacht.
Two thirds of the work is the semblance.

Is fearr lán doirn de cheird ná lán mála d’ór.
A handful of skill is better than a bagful of gold.

Ní thuirsítear fear na héadála.
One does not tire of a profitable occupation.

Is crua a cheannaíonn an droim an bolg.
The back must slave to feed the belly.

Snathán fada, táilliur falsa.
A long stitch, a lazy tailor.

Mac antsaoir ábhar an tuata.
A craftsman’s son may grow up in ignorance of his father’s skills.

Molann an obair an fear.
The work praises the man.
Irish Proverbs: Youth & Old Age
Bí go maith leis an ngarlach agus tiocfaidh sé amárach.
Be good to the child and he will come to you tomorrow.

Is cuma leis an óige cá leagann sí a cos.
Youth does not mind where it sets its foot.

Ní túisce craiceann na seanchaorach ar an bhfraigh ná craiceann na caorach óige.
The skin of the old sheep is on the rafter no sooner than the skin of the young sheep.

Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí.
Praise the young and they will blossom.

Is minic a rinne bromach gioblach capall cumasach.
Many a ragged colt made a noble horse.

Bionn ceann caol ar an óige.
You cannot put an old head on the young.

Níl a fhios ag aon duine cá bhfuil fód a bháis.
Nobody knows where his sod of death is.
Irish Proverbs: Romance & Marriage
Is folamh, fuar teach gan bean.
Empty and cold is the house without a woman.

Ón lá a bpósfaidh tú beidh do chroí i do bhéal agus do lámh i do phóca.
From the day you marry your heart will be in your mouth and your hand in your pocket.

Níl aon leigheas ar an ngrá ach pósadh.
The only cure for love is marriage.

Is uaigneach an níochán nach mbíonn léine ann.
It is a lonely washing that has no man's shirt in it.

Is é do mhac do mhac go bpósann sé ach is í d'iníon go bhfaighidh tú bás.
Your son is your son until he marries, but your daughter is your daughter until you die.
Irish Proverbs: Character & Honour
Drochubh, drochéan.
A bad egg, a bad bird.

Is onórai poll ná paiste.
A hole is more honourable than a patch.
Irish Proverbs: Fortune & Wealth
An beagán, go minic, a fhágas rioc sa sparán.
A little, often, leaves wrinkles in the purse.

Ní thuigeann an sách an seang.
The well-fed does not understand the lean.

Is fearr bothán biamhar ná caisleán gortach.
A cabin with plenty of food is better than a hungry castle.

Is buaine port ná glór na n-éan,
Is buaine focal ná toice an tsaoil.
A tune is more lasting than the song of the birds,
And a word more lasting than the wealth of the world.

De réir a chéile a thógtar na caisleáin.
It takes time to build castles.
Irish Proverbs: Human Nature
Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireas na daoine.
People live in one another's shelter.

Bíonn chuile dhuine lách go dtéann bó ina gharraí.
Everyone is sociable until a cow invades his garden.

An áit a bhuil do chroí is ann a thabharfas do chosa thú.
Your feet will bring you to where your heart is.

Is maith an scáthán súil charad.
A friend's eye is a good mirror.

Maireann croí éadrom i bhfad.
A light heart lives long.

Ag duine féin is fearr a fhios cá luíonn an bhróg air.
The wearer best knows where the shoe pinches.

Cuir síoda ar ghabhar agus is gabhar i gcónaí é.
Put silk on a goat and it is still a goat.

Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin.
There is no fireside like your own fireside.
Irish Proverbs: Life's Ups & Downs
Is fada an bóthar nach mbíonn casadh ann.
It is a long road that has no turning.

Níl aon suáilce gan a duáilce féin.
There are no unmixed blessings in life.

Is gaire cabhair Dé ná an doras.
God's help is nearer than the door.

Mair, a chapaill, agus gheobhaidh tú féar.
Live, horse, and you will get grass.

Is ceirín do gach créacht an fhoighne.
Patience is a poultice for all wounds.
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