Here is a brief guide to the Irish expressions used by Lucy and her father, Morgan, in A Distant Prospect.
A printable version is at Gluais úsáide Gaelach – Glossary of Irish usage.
Dia duit: Hello (literal translation: God to you)
Dia is Muire duit: Hello (literally, God and Mary to you – the correct reply to Dia duit.)
Oíche mhaith: Good night
Go raibh maith agat: Thank you
Tá fáilte romhat: You’re welcome
Ch 1 Bíodh lá maith agat, a Luighseach. Have a good day, Lucy.
Ch 1 Gabh mo leithsceál. An bhfuil— Excuse me. Are –
Ch 3 Grace before meals:
Beannaigh sinn, a Dhia
Beannaighe àr mbia is àr ndeoch
Ós Tú a cheannaigh sinn go daor
Go saora Tú sinn ó gach uile olc.
Bless us, O God.
Bless our food and our drink.
Since you redeemed us so dearly
and delivered us from evil.
Ch 4 Ná hoscail an—! Don’t open [the door]
Ch 10 Ná déan é sin arís. Don’t do it again.
Ch 11 Dia go deo leat! God bless you!
Ch 13 Mo Dhia! Cuir stop leis! Cuir— Dear God, please stop! Stop!
Ch 14 An féidir leat an scaraoid bhán a chuir ar an mbord, a Luighseach?
Can you put the white cloth on the table, Lucy?
Ch 15 Hoigh, a mhaidrín. Hey there, mutt!
Ch 16 Oíche mhaith duit, a Lúighsighe. Good night, Lucy.
Ch 17 Ar Haydn é an ceol. The music of Haydn
Ch 18 Cuir stop leis, a mhaidrín. Ná bí dána. Stop that, mutt. Don’t be naughty.
Ch 18 Tar liom. Come with me.
Ch 20 Chun an grá Dia, is féidir cén fáth nach bhfuil tú ag caint le dom!
For the love of God, why can you not talk to me!
Ch 21 Bail ó Dhia ort. God bless you.
Ch 22 Lúighsighe, an bhfuil cead agam teacht isteach? Lucy, may I come in?
Tá tu ag teacht isteach, a Dhaidí. You may come in, Daddy.
Ch 25 Maith an lá dhuit, a Dhaidí. Have a good day, Daddy.
Go ngnóthaí Dia dhuit, a Luighseach. And a good day to you, Lucy. ‘
Ch 37 Dia dhuit agus Damhnaic, a Luighseach.
And good day to you, Lucy. (Literally, God and St Dominic to you, Lucy.)
Ch 39 Céad mile fáilte romhat! A hundred thousand welcomes to you!
Ch 48 Buíochas le Dia nach bhfuil tú gortaithe, a Luighseach!
Thanks be to God you’re not badly injured, Lucy!
Ch 55 Lá breithe sona dhuit, a Luighseach. Happy birthday, Lucy.
Ch 57 Dia is Muire dhuit agus Pádraig, a Dhelleen.
And good day to you, Della. (Literally, God and Mary, and Patrick, to you, Delleen.)
Anois! Now!
Curach: coracle (a Galway fishing boat)
Docht: strict
Fatai: potatoes
Mo mhuirnín: my darling
Sean nós: Irish dancing (of Galway)
Speclaí: spectacles