The Irish Language
Did you know? While English is widely spoken across Ireland, Irish (Gaeilge) remains a vibrant part of the culture, especially in regions known as the Gaeltacht. In these areas, you may encounter road signs and conversations in Irish, offering a glimpse into Ireland’s linguistic heritage.
Even outside the Gaeltacht, you’ll notice Irish words woven into place names and everyday language. Many visitors find themselves charmed by these terms, bringing a few favorites home as part of their travel memories.
To help you get acquainted, here’s a quick dictionary of some common Irish words and their meanings:
Bally: Place of
Ballycastle (Place of the castle)
Carraig: Rock/large stone
Carraig na gCat (Rock of the cats)
Craic: Good times/fun
“What’s the craic?” (What’s happening?)
Fáilte: Welcome
Céad Míle Fáilte (A hundred thousand welcomes).
Glen: Valley
Glen of Aherlow (Valley of Aherlow).
Kil: Church of
Killarney (Church of the sloe bushes).
Lough: Lake
Lough Corrib (Corrib Lake).
Sláinte: To your health
“Sláinte!” (Cheers!).