Proverbs

 Roinnt sean-fhocail ó Shráid na Cathrach, Co an Chláir. Foilsíodh in Irisleabhar na Gaidhilge, Seám Ó Briain ó’n mbaile sin a chnuasaigh circa 1910. Táid coitianta go maith, ach ní raibh, b’fhéidir, an tráth sin.

Some proverbs from Miltown Malbay, Clare. They were published in the Gaelic League Journal and Seán I’Brian from Miltown Malbay collected them around 1900. They’re common ones, but maybe they weren’t that common at that point.

(Spelling as in the original)

Is fear greim de choinín ná dhá ghreim de chat.

(Better a one hand grip on a rabbit than two hands on a cat.)

Nuair is gainne den bhia, sé is cirte a roinnt.

O)When the food is scarcest, it’s then it’s most proper to share.

Galar na náire at tart ach bhain an tochras an bárr cfe.

(Thirst is a shameless disease/need, but the need to scratch an itch beats it.)

Eist le fuaim na habhann agus geobhaidh tú breac

(Listen to the sound of the river and you’ll catch a trout.)

Ag lord go mhadra agus gan fhios a dhátth agat.

)Searching (everywhere) for your dog and you don’t know what color he is.)

Ní hionnan dul go dtí an baile mór agus teacht as.

(It’s one thing to go to the city: it’s another to get out of it.)

  

As an obair a gheibhtear an fhoghluim.

)One learns from doing the work.)