Lucy and her father speak Irish quite a bit in A Distant Prospect, requiring Annette to study the language in order to write it.
Some of the funniest moments in the book see Lucy blurt out something in Irish in mixed company.
Here’s an Irish grace before meals:
Beannaigh sinne, a Dhia.
Beannaigh ár mbia agus ár ndeoch.
ós tú a cheannaigh sinn go daor
Agus a shaor sinn ó olc,
Mar a thug tú an chuid seo dúinn
Go dtuga tú dúinn ár gcuid den ghlóir shíoraí.
And its English translation:
Bless us, O God.
Bless our food and our drink.
Since you redeemed us so dearly
and delivered us from evil,
as you gave us a share in this food
so may you give us a share in eternal life.
For more examples and other Irishness, see irishpage.com.