Flanagan - Irish Proverbs

IRISH PROVERBS COMPILED BY
LAURENCE FLANAGAN Gill & Macmillan FOR FERGAL TOBIN Contents PREFACE E very civilised language possesses a large store of proverbs, the accumulated gatherings of the wit and homely wisdom of many generations. Numbers of these are identical, or nearly so, in all countries, seeming, as it were, to be citizens of the world. This was said in 1858 by Robert MacAdam in his introduction to a collection of Ulster proverbs. The truth of it will be seen in the following pages. One of the inevitabilities of compiling lists of proverbs is that plagiarism is implicit in it or rather, since several sources are used, research. The practice of compiling lists of Irish proverbs has a long ancestry, going back to such ancient compilations as Tecosca Cormaic [Teagasc Chormaic], ascribed to the mythical Cormac mac Airt.

Since those early efforts many people have assiduously collected proverbs throughout the country, thereby preserving them for us and posterity. The basis of the present selection is a list that appeared in The College Irish Grammar by Rev. Ulick Bourke, who was intent on producing a more definitive collection, which unfortunately never materialised. Items from this source are indicated by [B]. To this are added items from the MacAdam collection, indicated by [MA], items from a collection by Henry Morris, indicated by [M], and a collection compiled in the eighteenth century by Michel Longin, indicated by [OL]. F. F.

ORahilly are added; these are indicated by [OR]. The Irish versions are those given by the original compilers, without any alteration or modernisation, while the English renderings are also those put upon them by the compilers. Many appear to be duplications but in fact are slightly variant forms, perhaps from different parts of the country. One not included in the body of this selection is almost an Irish Ten Commandments and seems a fitting end to this preface. N b cainteach a d-tigh an il,
N cuir anfhios air sheanir,
N h-abair nach n-dantar cir,
N h-ob agus na h-iarr onir,
N b cruaidh agus n b bog,
N trig do charaid air a chuid,
N b m-mhodhamhail, n dan troid,
As n h-ob mas igin duit.
Do not be talkative in a drinking-house,
Do not impute ignorance to an elder,
Do not say justice is not done,
Do not refuse and do not seek honour,
Do not be hard and do not be liberal,
Do not forsake a friend on account of his means,
Do not be impolite; and do not offer fight,
Yet decline it not, if necessary. [MA] Is olc nach ngabhaidh comhairle, acht is mle measa a ghabhas gach uile chomhairle.He is bad that will not take advice, but he is a thousand times worse who takes every advice. [MA] An t n gabhann cmhairle gabhadh s cmhrac.Let him who will not have advice have conflict. [OL] Minic bh duine na dhroch-chmhairlidhe dho fin agus na chmhairlidhe mhaith do dhuine eile.A man is often a bad adviser to himself and a good adviser to another. [OL] APPETITE Maith an mustrd an sliabh.The mountain is a good mustard. [OL] Is maith a t-annlann an t-ocras.Hunger is the best sauce. [OL] APPLICATION N fhaghann cos na comhnaidh aon ndh.The foot at rest meets nothing. [B] Ma bhris tu an cnmh, char dhighail tu an smior.Though you have broken the bone you have not sucked out the marrow. [MA] Is fearr rith maith n seasamh fada.A good run is better than a long stand. [MA] Budh chir an dn a dheanadh go maith air ts, mur is iomad fear millte a thig air.A poem ought to be well made at first, for there is many a one to spoil it afterwards. [MA] Is namhuid an cheird gan a foghluim .A trade not (properly) learned is an enemy. [MA] Si leith na ceirde an irleais.The tools are the half of the trade. [MA] Is fearr domhaineach n ag obair a n-asgaidh.Better be idle than working for nothing. [MA] Buail an t-iarann fad as ta se teith.Strike while the iron is hot. [MA] Cha ghabhann dorn druidte seabhac.A shut fist will not catch a hawk. [MA] Chan fhaghthar saill gan saothar.Fat is not to be had without labour. [MA] S an t-un maidne a gheabhas a phideog.It is the morning bird that catches the worm. [MA] Is trian den obair, ts a chur.Making a beginning is the one-third of the work. [MA] Dean sin mur a bheidheadh teine air do chraicionn.Do it as if there were fire on your skin. [MA] An t is luaithe lamh, bodh aige an gadhar bn s a fiadh.He that has the quickest hand, let him have the white hound and the deer. [MA] Is fearr irigh moch n suidhe mall.Early rising is better than sitting up late. [MA] Faghann iarraidh iarraidh eile.The seeking for one thing will find another. [MA] Nil mheud an phrinn nach lughaide na gnothuidhe.The greater the hurry the less the work. [MA] Trom an rud an leisge.Laziness is a load. [OL] Cuir luath is buin luath.Early sow, early mow. [OL] As an obair do fachtar an fhoghluim.Learning comes through work. [OL] Gnthamh na hoibre an t-elas.Knowledge comes through practice. [OL] Gib olc maith an ealadha, is taithighe nann mighistreacht.Be ones trade good or bad, it is experience that makes one an adept at it. [OL] I gcosaibh na con do bhonn a cuid.A greyhound finds its food with its feet. [OL] N fhaghann cos na comhnaidhe dada.A foot that stirs not gets nothing. [OL] BEAUTY Ailneacht mn ionraice guidheann cuntus cruaidh.The beauty of a chaste woman excites hard dispute. [B] Bidh borb faoi sgimh.A fierce person is often in beautys dress. [B] Is minic a bh grna geanamhail, agus dathamhail dona.Often was ugly amiable and pretty sulky. [B] Leis a mhin a bhragtar ach uile nidh, acht bidh an sgiamh ag an t ar geineadh d .Beauty is the possession of him to whom it is born, but it is manner that captivates every one. [M] Biann duilleabhar luinn as toradh searbh air chrann na sgimhe.The tree of beauty has handsome foliage and bitter fruit. [MA] Minic bh grnna greannmhar is dathamail donaoi.Often was ugly amiable and handsome unfortunate. [OL] N h an bhreghthacht do chuireann an crocn a fiuchadh.Beauty will not make the pot boil. [OL] BEGGING Is fearr mathair phcin n athair seistrigh.A begging mother is better than a ploughing father. [MA] N bhfaghann sr-iarraidh ach sr-eiteach.Constant begging only meets with constant refusal. [OL] BRIBERY Sgoilteann an bhreab an chloch.Bribery can split a stone. [OL] N hil liom fear breibe.I like not a man who is bribed. [OL] CHARITY Dean taise le truaighe, as gruaim le namhuid.Have a kind look for misery, but a frown for an enemy. [MA] N bhfachtar maith le mugha agus fachtar cl le dirc.No good is got by wasting, but a good name is got by alms-giving. [OL] CLEANLINESS Is don ghlire an ghluine.Cleanliness is part of glory. [OL]