That’s how people greet each other in West Cork. Lovely, isn’t it? And when we say goodbye we always add Mind yourself. Mind yourself – it’s like being told to be careful, to look after yourself, and not to forget to take time to have a cup of tea and a nice sit down occasionally, all rolled up in one.
It’s been a while since I’ve written a post on how to speak like you’re Irish (scroll to the end to see a list of the previous posts) but I’ve been keeping notes all along, so here is my latest primer so that you can feel like you’re getting the hang of West Cork Speak.
Besides my own images, I’m illustrating this post with cards from Conker Tree Studio. Justyna, from Poland but now living in Ireland, has designed a line of cards and magnets with directions and phrases that she has come to, er, appreciate in the everyday talk around her. Look out for her cards anywhere you go in Ireland, or buy them online.
Sure can be used on its own, but it’s more usually heard in combination with other words in phrases that convey an endless variety of responses useful in almost every circumstance. Take Ah, sure, j’know – use it to express sympathy, along with an exquisite understanding of the circumstances being related. Ah, sure, look is similar although it’s pronounced with a more world-weary air and perhaps without the underlying implied slight cynicism of Ah sure j’know.
Ceramics by Stefanie Dinkelbach, at Etain Hickey Collections (or here)
The auld arthritis is killing me but isn’t it a grand day? Sure, we can’t complain.
I bought it off a farmer and it runs great. But I just discovered it has no seat belts. Ah sure, what harm.
I paid my water bill, like an eejit, and now I hear the lads who didn’t pay won’t get penalised. Ah sure, j’know.
I was hoping to get the silage cut today but would you look at the rain, ’tis coming down in sheets. Ah sure, look.
Sure, aren’t we all having a grand time?
Don’t be bold!
Around children, it’s good to tune in to the specialised vocabulary adults use for their behaviour. Being bold has nothing to do with bravery – to be bold is to misbehave. If a child is being annoyingly but not nastily bold, he might be just acting the maggot. Or she might be a bit giddy. In any case, the proper response of any right-thinking adult in the vicinity is to give out to them. Giving out means rebuking or reprimanding. The other thing adults like to do with children (and other adults) is to put manners on them. This is a very handy phrase that can be used in all kinds of ways.
Nobody’s acting the maggot here!
Sinead, stop acting the maggot. Ah, Mammy, don’t be always giving out to me.
The eldest was put into Miss O’Brien’s class this year. She’s strict out – that’ll put manners on him.
That’ll put manners on him (Elizabeth Fort, Cork City)
Assent and agreement.
Perhaps because it’s considered bad form to say no (even if that’s what you mean) we have developed a plethora of ways to say yes. No bother is a universal favourite, but perfect has lately been making significant inroads. Y’know yerself, however, is the ultimate form of both eliciting and delivering concurrence.
I think the clutch has gone but I need it desperately for tomorrow. No bother.
I’ll have the Full Irish, but no meat, extra mushrooms, gluten-free toast, a large cappuccino…no wait, I’ve changed my mind, add the black pudding back in and change the cappuccino to a soya latte. Perfect!
The full Irish at Budds of Ballydehob – all local ingredients
They’ll all be down for Christmas, there’ll be nine of them including the grandchildren all wanting mince pies and home made scones and mountains of mashed potatoes, but y’know yerself, like…
How are you? Ah sure, y’know yourself.
So now – off you go and do a biteen of practice. You know yourself, like, that it’ll take a while before you can make a good fisht of it, like Justyna from Poland. But if you don’t get around to it, no bother. Life is busy, in fairness. Mind yerself, now.
This is the fifth in a series. Previous posts:
West Cork Speak: Lessons 1 and 2
West Cork Speak: Lessons 3 and 4
West Cork Speak: Lessons 5 to 7
Is it tis or is it ’tis? to me this is important, it tis (or ’tis). When writing, do the Irish use the apostrophe or not? Thank you.
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Hello Andrew. I can’t speak for all the Irish, but I was always taught to use the apostrophe. I see Frank McCourt uses it, in the title of his book.
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Thank you.
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This blog is my favorite! Many thanks for all the work gone in it.
Rachel Lee
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Yes, this all sounds familiar 🙂 Time I wandered back over that way. I’d visit places like Skib with a new eye after following your blog.
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Let us know when to put the kettle on, Roy!
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I feel like I’ve taken a trip to Ireland looking at these! I love it and I’ll be thankin’ ya! Mary Jane’
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You’re welcome, Mary Jane. No bother, like.
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Not sure that decapitated heads added much to my Sunday evening ! I think such things, so casually reproduced without any historical explanation, poison the well of the present and are very unhelpful for the future.
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Ooops – sorry to lacerate your sensibilities, Julian. I suppose I could have used a more subtle image. I’ve changed it now. Hope you approve.
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Well, I only hope Robert agrees that being put in the stocks for your misdemeanour was “more subtle ” !!! He looks cheerful enough in the face of adversity, I must confess. Meanwhile, How’s she cuttin’ ?? Sure, if you’re still hooked on severed heads and such like, tune into Al Jazeera in the coming days and weeks as they lift the lid on Aleppo. No need to go back 400 years. Anyway , thanks for noting my lacerated sensibilities – and it’s a grand life if ye don’t weaken !
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In fairness like, this is a grand blog alright. How ye keeping, ah sure aren’t you a grand girl altogether 🙂 I just love those cards and have a shtash!
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Is it yourself? Trouble is, with those cards, I can’t bear to send them to people as I like them too much. You know yerself.
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Hello Susan! Glad you liked it – now when are you coming over to put it all into practice?
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Ah sure, Finola, wouldn’t I be smiling from one ear to the other after reading How Are You Keeping and the other lessons. Delightful reading altogether!
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