Seanfhocail / Proverbs

Tosach maith leath na hoibre.

A good beginning is half the work.

Is binn béal ina thost.

A silent mouth is sweet.

(This one was used to correct chatterboxes at school!)

Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin.

There’s no place like home.

Tá Dia láidir is máthair maith aige.

God is strong and has a good mother.

Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile.

It takes one to know one.

(Literally: One beetle knows another.)

Ní neart go cur le chéile.

There is no strength until there is cooperation.

Nuair a bhíonn an cat amuigh bíonn an luch ag rince.

When the cat is out the mouse can play.

Is fearr an tsláinte ná an táinte.\

Health is better than wealth.

Is maith an t-anlann an t-ocras.

Hunger is a good sauce.

Is gaire cabhair Dé na an doras.

God’s help is nearer than the door.

These are some of the seanfhocail I learned in Scariff National School over 80 years ago!

Our teacher was Miss Anna May Moloney, a great teacher and a lover of the Irish Language. I have happy memories of those days!

Sr. Consilio Long,Convent of Mercy, Loughrea

Cúl an Tí”

Some of our favourite proverbs:

Is glas iad na cnoic i bhfad uainn.

The faraway hills are green.

Is fearr comhrá le saoi ná deich mbliana staidéar

Talking to a wise person is better than ten year’s study.

(from Mary O ‘Leary, An Geata Bán)

Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine.

In the shelter of each other we thrive.

Tuigeann bean bean eile.

One woman understands another.

(from Carol McNamara, An Scairbh)

Ní bhíonn in aon rud ach seal.

Nothing lasts forever. / Everything passes.

Briseann an dúchas trí shúile an chait

Heredity breaks out in the eyes of the cat.

(from Pat Donnellan, Baile Uí Bheoláin)

Más fada an lá tig an oíche.

Though the day is long, the night will come.

Níl uasal ná íseal ach thuas seal agus thíos seal.

Neither noble nor lowly but up a while and down a while.

Níl saoi gan locht ná daoi gan tréith.

There is no wise man without a fault nor a fool without a good feature.

Anne Kenny, Baile Uí Bheolá

Seanfhocail / Proverbs

Is ait an mac an saol – Life is strange

Is breá an ní an óige ach ní thagann sé faoi dhó – Youth is a fine thing but it doesn’t come twice

Is fada an bóthar nach bhfuil casadh ann – It’s a long road that has no turning

Is cuma le fear na mbróg cá leagann sé a chos – The man with shoes doesn’t mind where he lays his feet

Níor tháinig olc i dtír riamh nach fearr do dhuine éigin – It’s an ill wind that blows nobody good

Is olc an ghaoth nach séideann do dhuine éigin – It’s an ill wind that blows nobody good

Is fearr Gaeilge bhriste ná Béarla cliste! – Broken (faulty) Irish is better than clever English!