The Irish Language - Grammar, Pronunciation, Games, Myths, Poetry and more

Re: List of Irish Names for Recording by www.talkirish.com

moskeff — Sun, 12 May 2013 17:42:00 GMT

I'm really interested in what you have said about Skinnader name. My family are Skiffington/ skeffington from townland of Foygh, Donaghmore near Dungannon in Co Tyrone. Ancestors in Donaghmore graveyard are Skinnaders buried in 17th and 18th centuries. we know family were in townland for at least 300 years, but don't know origins. I was told they would have been Macskinnaders.

There are a lot of Skiffingtons in Mayo, Roscommon and Tyrone with all different spellings. Don't know when / why name was changed but thought it might be for political reasons.

Any information you hvae would be much appreciated.

Best wishes

Maureen Skeffington

Re: List of Irish Names for Recording by www.talkirish.com

moskeff — Sun, 12 May 2013 17:32:09 GMT

Really intereted in what you know about skinnaders.

My family are Skeffingtons/ skiffingtons from townland of Foygh, Donaghmore near Dungannon in CoTyrone - but ancestors in Donaghmore graveyeard from 17th & 18th century are Skinnaders. Trying to work out when / why name changed. Your explanation makes some sense as there are skeffingtons in Mayo and Roscommon and Dungannon. My family are now in Lanarkshire Scotland - from 1909. Many sons went to USA in 1830s and 1850s although farm was only sold up in 1950s. I know my family was in Donaghmore for at least 300 years but don't know if they arrived in Ireland - from where? in early 17th century or if they were normans from 11th century or old irish.

Any further information you may have would be much appreciated.

Best wsihes

Maureen Skeffington

Re: List of Irish Names for Recording by www.talkirish.com

germantiger — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:09:25 GMT

Maybe we could do the most common hundred, and then any afterwards upon request?

By the way, I see that you have a map of Ireland up as your profile picture, but what does the green represent? Those aren't the Gaeltachtaí, are they? If so, what year would that have been?

Re: List of Irish Names for Recording by www.talkirish.com

seano — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 07:41:45 GMT

I think it would be hard because there are so many of them, but I suppose it would be possible to do the most common one hundred.

Re: List of Irish Names for Recording by www.talkirish.com

germantiger — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:42:58 GMT

Just curious, is it planned to record Irish surnames as well? I think that would also be quite interesting.

Re: List of Irish Names for Recording by www.talkirish.com

Nessa Patricia — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:42:41 GMT

There's my name, Nessa, or Neasa as some people spel it. It is NOT a derivative of Vanessa, there is a legend about a queen called Nessa.

Niamh

Saoirse

Setanta (love that name!)

Aodhinn

Aoife

Clodagh

Eimir

Deirdre

Sean

Séan (pronounced Shane)

Can't think of any more right now, but I will be back!

Re: List of Irish Names for Recording by www.talkirish.com

seano — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:15:26 GMT

Yes, I agree with you that all of the variants should be included. Aindréas, Aindrias or Aindriú. As for the sublety of the pronunciation, it is difficult for people to get it right. The point of articulation (the place in the mouth where the sound is made) is different in every language. A t in Irish is made with the tongue against the front teeth - most English speakers articulate the t with the tongue against the palate behind the front teeth. There are even different facial expressions associated with different languages and dialects. I always think that Donegal native speakers look as if their lower lip has been treated with Botox. The lower lip stays immobile while the tongue and the upper lip do all the work. Some people really can't imitate accents or learn to pronounce other languages properly but I suspect that most people could do it if they had to - they are just inhibited. You can see this with people who can do a passable imitation of a French person speaking English (which shows they have a grasp of French pronunciation and intonation) but would never dream of putting on a French accent while asking for a beer in holiday French!

Re: List of Irish Names for Recording by www.talkirish.com

Aindriu MacCoinnath — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 09:50:03 GMT

I use my name, as Gaeilge, whenever I can.

Aindriú is, I believe, the Ulster form of Andrew (as Béarla) and Mac Cionnath is McKenna, or son of Kenneth. I never liked the southern form of Andrew – Aindréas, and a teacher gave me the alternate spelling that just seemed to fit better and I like to use that now.

a list of names in Irish would probably have to start with saint's names.

Also, how do we help a non-native speaker to intuitively understand the pronunciation of a name like Caoimhe – a beautiful name, for sure, but Irish speakers (whether fluent or not) have an inferred knowledge that lets them “see” the way the word is pronounced. My wife, even after ten years, still has difficulty with Irish names.

Of course, in case anybody thinks I know what I’m talking about…I mis-spelled Mac Cionnath when I put in my user name and don’t know how to fix that…foolish old me.

Aindriú

Nuair a déir tú aon focal i do teanga féin, tá tú ag caint as do chroí

Re: List of Irish Names for Recording by www.talkirish.com

seano — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 05:09:43 GMT

Bridget is an easy one. In the modern spelling it's Bríd and in the unreformed spelling it's Brighid. Some people get really het up about the reformed spelling and the Caighdeán, either for or against. In my less than humble opinion, common sense dictates that the Caighdeán and a standard form of spelling is a good thing for the language and its speakers. However, I think that proper names have to be an exception. If someone wants to use Brighid rather than Bríd, then why not? As for the standardisation of surnames, it is incredibly silly. Why would anyone want ALL the Ó Gallchóir families in Donegal to spell their surname the same way?

Anyway, Barbara is not an Irish name originally. Apparently it comes from the Greek for barbarian. It is often stated that it means foreigner, but I think that foreigner would properly be Xena, as in warrior princess and icon of the nineties. The Irish form of Barbara is quite similar to the English. It is Bairbre, pronounced barbra (or more usually bwarbra with a pronounced w sound after the b - something like the w sound after the m when someone kisses in a pretentious manner - "Mwah! Dwarling, it's so mwarvellous to see you ...")

Apropos of nothing, someone asked me the other day if there is an Irish version of Courtney. Now, the surname Courtney in Ireland is often an anglicised version of Mac Cuarta but you couldn't use Mac Cuarta as a girl's forename. My recommendation would be either to keep it as it is or gaelicise the spelling to Cúrtnaí, so Courtney Cox would be Cúrtnaí Nic Coiligh (yes, I'm serious!)

Re: List of Irish Names for Recording by www.talkirish.com

seano — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 05:07:32 GMT

Íosac is certainly nice if you like Biblical names - it's just the Irish version of Isaac. I also like Garbhán, though to an Irish speaker it has slightly negative connotations because the root of it is the word garbh, which means rough, so garbhán means "little rough one". It was the name of an ancient saint. Some sources online say that it should be pronounced Garvan, which is not right. Irish has a tendency to put in epenthetic vowels - for example, the Irish talk about going to a fillum while British or American speakers would generally say film, so the name is properly pronounced garavan (in the south) or garawan (in Ulster dialect). And a word of caution is necessary - if the child is going to have to live in a predominantly English-speaking environment, Garbhán with the southern pronunciation might create problems. "Hey, this kid here's called Caravan!"

Re: List of Irish Names for Recording by www.talkirish.com

Russell — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:52:23 GMT

I like the Irish names Íosac and Garbhán.

Re: List of Irish Names for Recording by www.talkirish.com

Maripat — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:38:05 GMT

Bridget, it was my grandmothers name. But what about Barbara, it was my great grandmothers name.

grma

Re: List of Irish Names for Recording by www.talkirish.com

seano — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 06:35:24 GMT

Hi Stacey,

I am a great believer in examples. It's amazing how many language courses get people to translate stuff which they aren't comfortable with before they've had enough examples to really understand what's happening. So here is a random selection of sentences in Irish with translations. Hope they are useful!

Bhí mé díreach ar tí an dinnéar a ithe nuair a chuir sí scairt orm.

I was just about to eat dinner when she rang me.

Bhí an ghaoth iontach láidir aréir ach tá an aimsir deas inniu.

The wind was very strong last night but the weather is nice today.

Cá bhfuil na heochracha sin a chuir mé ar an tábla inné?

Where are those keys I put on the table yesterday?

An bhfaca tú an scannán sin riamh?

Did you ever see that film? (In English you would have to say "Have you ever seen" but not in Irish)

Chuala mé ar an nuacht gur dódh siopa mór i lár na cathrach aréir.

I heard on the news that a big shop in the city centre was burned last night.

Cé hé an fear sin atá ag labhairt le do chairde?

Who is that man who is speaking to your friends?

An léann tú leabhair go minic nó an fearr leat amharc ar an teilifís?

Do you read books often or do you prefer watching television?

Have a go at learning them. Copy the English and the Irish separately and test yourself. When you've learned them, I'll post some more. All the best, Seán.

Re: List of Irish Names for Recording by www.talkirish.com

staceygg — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:08:06 GMT

hi im looking for irish translated to english to help me understand and put to gether sentances, if ud like to give me sum home work would be great thanks slan leath agus giramiahgut. my spelling not to good

Re: List of Irish Names for Recording by www.talkirish.com

Bernie Skinnader — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 07:54:36 GMT

Go raibh maith agat Seano. That's very helpful - especially giving the pronounciation as well. I'm a 'returner' to learning Irish - learnt it for many years through the whole Irish education system but of course can't speak it.

I've forwarded what you say about the Skinnader name on to my husband who is from North Monaghan - he will be very interested. He is already aware of Margaret Skinnader (don't think she spelled it the same although!) and is not really sure of the origin of the name although he feels that its probably Scottish

Regards

Bearnairdín