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1 Is fearr rith maith ná droch sheasamh.
 (Better a good run [retreat?] than a bad stand [defence?].)

2 Níl sa saol seo ach ceo is ní bheimíd beo ach seal beag gearr.
 (It's a misty old world and we are only in it for a short, sharp while.)

3 Is túisce a thiteann oíche Fómhair ná cloch í bpoll móna.
 (An Autumn night falls faster than a rock in a boghole.)

4 Is éasca caint ná coisíocht.
 (Easier talking than doing.)

5 Pós bean aniar agus pósfaidh tú thiar.
 (Marry a woman from the west and you marry the west.)

6 Ná biodh tús acharainn agat ná deireadh scéil.
 (Don't start a quarrel or end a story [ie take the last word].)

7 Pós bean ón sliabh agus pósfaidh tú an sliabh.
 (Marry a mountainy woman and you marry the mountain.)

8 Ní lia duine ná barúil.
 (There's no less people than opinions.)

9 San áit ina mbíonn toit bíonn tine,
 San áit ina mbíonn tine bíonn teas,
 San áit ina mbíonn teas bíonn mná,
 San áit ina mbíonn mná bíonn gab!
 (Where there's a roof, there's a fire
  where there's a fire, there's women
  where there's women , there's gossip!)

10 Tús maith leath na hoibre.
 (A good start is half done.)

11 I dtír na ndall, is rí fear na leathshúile.
 (In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king.)

12 'Cad a dhéanfadh mac an chait, ach luch a mharú !
 (What would the son of the cat do but kill mice)

13 Tá mise ceart, bíodh an fheamainn ag an bhfear eile.
 (I'm okay, let the guy have the sea-weed.)

14 Dá mbeadh cuinneog ag an gcat, ba mhinic a phus féin inti.
 (If the cat had a churn, it's often his own face would be in it.)

15 Mura dtaga leat tar leo!       
 (If you can't beat them join them!)

16 Is maith an té atá ag tabhairt achasáin uaidh.
 (The pot calling the kettle black.)

17 Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin.
 (There's no fireside like your own fireside.)

18 Níl aon tóin tinn mar do thóin tinn fhéin.
  (There's no sore bum like your own sore bum.)

19 Is fearr stuaim ná neart.
 (Better sense than strength.)

20 Is fearr buille a chuireann tú abhaile ná dhá bhuille ar an mbealach.
 (Better a lift that gets you home than two lifts on the way.)

21 Is fearr cara sa chúirt ná punt sa sparán.
 (Better a friend in court than a pound in the purse.)

22 Sioc tús oíche dhíol Fionn na bróga;
 Sioc deireadh oíche cheannaigh sé arís iad.
 (Frost early in the night and Fionn sells his shoes;
 Frost late in the night and he buys them back.)

23 Ní thig leat an craiceann is a luach a fháil.
 (You can't keep the skin and get its price.)

24 Is iomaí lá ag an uaigh orainn.
 (We've to spend many days in the grave.)

25 Naoi n-oiche agus oíche gan áireamh,
 Ó Oíche Shamhna go hOíche Fhéil Mártain.
 (Nine nights and one night uncounted,
  From Hallowe'en to St. Martins Night.)

26 Bróga sa chliabhán agus ladhracha sa lathaigh. 
 (Shoes are in the basket[storage] and mud's between the toes.)

27 Is treise dúchas ná oiliúint.
 (Instinct is stronger than training.)

28 Más mian leat cáineadh pós,
 Más áin leat moladh faigh bás.
 (If it's abuse you want, marry
 If it's praise you want, die.)

29 Tóg a bhfaighidh tú is bí ag iarraidh tuilleadh.
  (Take what you are given and hope for a bit extra.)

30 Ní thagann an óige faoi dhó choíche;
  ach tagann an brón faoi dhó san oíche
 (Youth comes only once to each of us; but sorrow comes twice a night.)

31 Is fearr an tsláinte mhór ná na milte bó.
 (Better great health than many cattle.)

32 Is fearr an tsláinte ná na táinte
 (Better health than riches [cattle].)

33 'Sé an dóchas lia gan anró.
 ()

34 Is fearr socrú dá dhonacht ná dlí dá fheabhas.
 (It's better to solve the problem than to improve the law.)

35 Imigh leis an saol agus tiocfaidh sé thart.
 (Go to the world and it will come to you.)

36 Nár laga Dia do lámh.
 (May God never weaken your arm.)

37 An rud is annamh is iontach.
 (The rarest thing is the most wonderful.)

38 Is í an toírneach a scanríonn ach an tintreach a mharaíonn.
 (It's the thunder that frightens but the lightening that kills.)

39 Ceannigh droch rud is bí gan aon rud.
 (Buy a bad thing and be left with nothing.)

40 Dá mbeinn-se sna flaithis nár bhreá mo scéal,
  I measc na n-aingeal, na n-aspal sna naomh.
 (If I was in heaven wouldn't I have a fine story,
 Amongst the angels, the apostles and the saints.)

41 Nár liachtai gráinneacha ghainimh na trá,
 Ná póigíní drúchta ar bharr an fhéir,
 Na beannachta Dé le h-anamacha do Mharbh.
 (More numerous than the grains of sand on the shore,
 Than the drops of dew on the tips of grass,
 The blessings of God on the souls of the Dead.)

42 Is trom an t-ualach an leisce.
 (Laziness is a heavy load.)

43 Leisce chun luí agus Leisce chun eirí. [Mallacht Cholmchill ar na Gael.]
 (Reluctant to sleep, reluctant to get up.)

44 Sin í bhur sláinte a Naoimh na hÉireann,
 Sláinte na n-aingeal is na n-aspal le cheile.
 Sláinte do Phádraig, os é 'bheannaigh Éire.
 (May your joy be great, O Saints of Ireland,
 The joy of the angels and the apostles together.
 And joy to Patrick, because he blessed Ireland.)

45 Ní fhaigheann lámh iata ach dorn dúnta.
 (A closed hand gets only a clenched fist.)

46 Is mairg a thréigeann an duine gnáth ar dhuine dhá thráth.
 (Ordinary folk have pity on those [old] folk who are at the
 end of their days.)

47 Galar fada níor inis ariamh bréag.
 (A lasting disease never told a lie.)

48 D'fhir cogaidh comhaltar síocháin.
 (Towards men of war vouch peace.)

49 Is mairg a bhíonn go holc agus go bocht ina dhiaidh.
 (A sorrow it is that vice follows poverty; 
                 OR
 Woe to him who does evil [in order to gain something] and
 fails to profit from his misdeeds [remains poor, after all]. )

50 Mair an capall agus gheobhair féar.
 (Kill the horse and you will get grass.)

51 Ná tarraing an anachain ort mara bhfuil tú i riocht é a chur díot.
 (Don't draw calamity down on yourself unless you are in shape to
 shake it off.)

52 Ná tabhair cúl ar comhairle do leasa.
 (Don't turn your back on good advice.)

53 Trí thréithe na Féinne: glaine ár gcroí,
  neart ár ngéag is beart de réir ár mbriathar.
 (Three characteristics of Fionn's men:
 purity of our heart, the strength of our limbs and
 our actions according to our word.)

54 An gad is gaire don scórnach is cóir a scaoileadh i dtosach.
 (The tie[button] closest to the throat is the one to open first.)

55 Ní mairtre go daille.
 (Blindness is the worst kind of deformation.)

56 Ní bhíonn an rath ach mar a mbíonn an smacht.
 (The result is only according to the effort.)

57 Feileann spallaí do bhallaí chomh maith le clocha móra.
 (Pebbles suit walls as well as big rocks.)

58 Go dtuga Dia fairsinge do chroí i gcónaí duit.
 (May God grant you a big heart always.)

59 Beireann cú mall ar a chuid.
 (A hound stalks his prey slowly.)

60 Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí.
 (Praise youth and it will flourish.)

61 Is fearr seo dhuit amháin ná dhá gheobhaidh tú.
 (Better one here you are than two you will get.)

62 Is measa cara fealltach ná namhaid follasach.
 (A treacherous friend is worse than an avowed enemy.)

63 Bíodh dhá abhras ar do choigil agat.
 (Let you always keep two threads on your spool.)

64 Trí bhua an duine shona: fál, faire, mochéirí.
 (Three attributes of a happy man: guarding, watching, early rising.)

65 Sonas ort agus séan, is an chuid eile orm féin.
 (May happiness and good fortune be your lot, and may I have what is over.)

66 Is fearr rud maith daor ná droch rud saor.
 (Better a good der thing than a cheap bad thing.)

67 Ní raibh 'maith go leor' go maith ariamh.
 ('Good enough' was never good.)

68 'Sí capall na hoibre an bia.
 (Food is the horse for work.)

69 Is minic a bhí gránna gnaíúil agus dathúil dona.
 (It's often ugly was mannerly and handsome was horrible.)

70 Taithí a ghníonn máistreacht
 (Practice makes perfect)

71 Sé Dia a rathaíonn.
 (It is God that prospers.)

72 Níl breith ar an gcloch a caitear.
 (There's no control upon the stone that is thrown.)

73 'Gach ré lá ó mó lá-sa amach', adeir Bríd.
 ('Every second day from my day onwards' says Bríd.)

74 Fáilte duit, a Mhuire mhór,
 A Mhaighdean shíoraí,
 Ár ndídean chóir.
 (Welcome to you Oh mighty Mary
 Oh eternal Virgin,
 Our rightful sanctuary.)

75 An rud is gaire don chroí, 'sé is gaire don bhéal.
 (Whatever is closest to the heart, it's that is closest to the mouth.)

76 Oíche Fhéil Fionáin a chuireann mír ar an bhfuacht.
 (It's the eve of Finian's Feast [FF=12 Dec] that marks the start of the cold [weather].)

77 Pós bean oileáin is pósfaidh tú an t-oileán ar fad;
  Pós bean as gleann is pósfaidh tú an gleann uilig.
 (Marry an island woman and you marry the whole island;
  Marry a woman from the glens and you marry the whole glen.)

78 Ná pós bean gan locht [mar níl a leithéid ann !]
 (Don't marry your ideal woman [because there is no such thing !])

79 Is teoide don mbrat [bplaincéad] a dhúbladh
 (Your cloak [blanket] will be all the warmer for being doubled)

80 Seo sláinte na ndaoine a bheidh ag dúbláil a bplaincéad anocht !
 (Here's health to all who will be doubling their blankets tonight!)

81 An té atá caifeach lena óige beidh sé bocht lena aois.
 (One who is a spendthrift in youth will be poor in old age.)

82 Is fearr bheith cinnte ná bheith caillte.
 (Better to be sure than to be lost.)

83 An té atá caifeach lena óige beidh sé bocht lena aois.
 (One who is a spendthrift in youth will be poor in old age.)

84 Tá an spáráil chomh maith leis an saothrú.
 (Saving[preserving] is as important as cultivation.)

85 An té nach trua leis do chás, ná déan do ghearán leis.
 (One who hasn't sympathy for your problem, don't bring your complaint
  to them.)

86 Tá an dá "b'fhéidir" ann - b'fhéidir go bhfuil agus b'fhéidir
 nach bhfuil.
 (There are the two "maybe"s - maybe it is and maybe it isn't.)

87 Is iomaí lá sa chill orainn.
 (We've to spend many days in the church[grave]yard.)

88 Is fearr lúbadh ná briseadh.
 (It is better to bend than to break.)

89 Ní haon mhaith cneasú thar ghoimh.
 (It's no use curing the symptoms instead of the disease.)

90 Ní rogha go Rí na cruinne.
 (Nothing compares to the King of the world.)

91 Bíonn caora dhubh ar an tréad is gile.
 (There are black sheep in the brightest flocks.)

92 An rud a scríobhann an púca léann sé féin é.
 (Whatever the pooka writes he reads it himself.)

93 Bíonn driopás ar na h-amadáin nuair a bhíonn drugall ar na h-aingil.
 (There does be a rush on the fools where there's a reluctance on the
 angels.)

94 Nollaig bhreá a dhéanann reilig teann.
 (A fine Christmas makes for a full graveyard.)

95 Tosnú maith leath na hoibre.
 (A good start is half the job.)

96 Coinnigh do shiopa agus coinneoidh an siopa thú.
 (Look after your shop and your shop will look after you.)

97 Lá 'le Pádraig - Thug Pádraig grian leis agus Mícheál an tsíon.
 (Patrick's Day - Pádraig gave it the sun and Michael the calm weather.)

98 Aithnítear cara i gcruatan.
 (In hardship a friend is recognised.)

99 Binn le neach a mholadh féin.
 (Melodious to everyone is praise.)

100 Is fearr cara sa chúirt ná punt sa sparán.
 (Better have a friend in court than a pound in your purse.)

101 Ar oíche Cinn an Dá Lá Dheáag beidh cuimhne grinn go héag.
 (On the night of the twelfth day [of Christmas] there will be a
  sharp recollection u

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Meileann muilte Dé go mall ach meileann siad go mín.
(God's mills grind slowly, but they grind finely.)
(Justice is sure.)

Tig leat déanamh gan do mhuintir, ach ní thig leat déanamh gan do chomharsana
(One can survive without any family but not without neighbours)

Molann an obair an saor.
(The work recommends the craftsman - Judge a man by his work)

Níor dhún Dia doras riamh nár oscail sé ceann eile.
(God never closed one door that he didn't open another.)

An té a bhíos ciontach, bíonn sé séantach.
(Strong denials indicate guilt)

Is minic a cailleadh long la/imh le cuan.
(Often a ship was lost right outside the harbour)
(There's many a slip twixt cup and lip)

Is goirt iad na deora a shileann, ach is goirte ná sin na deora nach sileann.

Ní dhéanfadh an saol capall rása d'asal
(The world wouldn't make a racehorse of a donkey)
(You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear)

Is searbh gach gnáth
(Tis bitter every routine thing)
(Familiarity breeds contempt)

Téann focal le gaoth ach téann buille le cnámh.
(a word goes with wind but a blow goes with bone, i.e., to the bone)
(Action counts more than words)

Léinn i gcéin agus grá sa bhaile

Caora mhór an t-uan i bhfad.
(a big sheep (is) the lamb in distance)
(A small burden (or trouble) feels big when borne for a long time)

Níor chaill fear an mhisnigh riamh. 
(The man of courage never lost)
(To the brave belong all things)

Is fuar an rud clú gan chara.
(tis cold the thing fame without a friend)
Fame without friendship is a hard road.

An té a bhios amuigh, fuaraíonn a chuid.
(When you stay outside, your dinner gets cold.)
(Out of sight, out of mind)

Is beag an rud is buaine ná an duine.

Is iad na muca ciúine a itheas an mhin.
(It's the quiet pigs that eat the meal.) 

Is olc an chearc nach scríobann di fhéin.

Is beag an dealg a dhéanas sileadh.
(Even a small thorn causes festering.)

Is cuma le fear na mbróg cá leagann sé a chos.
(The man with the boots doesn't mind where he places his foot.)

Nuair a imíonn an leann imíonn an greann.
(When the drink goes the fun goes.)

Is minic cnámh mhor ag drochmhadadh.
(It's often the bad dog that gets the big bone.)

An té a bhíos fial roinneann Dia leis.
(God shares with the one who is generous.)

Minic a thig maith as cath.
(Good often comes of strife)

Ná hinis do bhrionglóid ach do fhear an dá chroí, nó do do mháthair féin sa bhaile.
(Don't tell your dream except to the man with the two hearts(?), or to your own mother at home)

Is olc nach ngabhaidh comhairle, ach is míle measa a ghabhas gach uile chomhairle.

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Is fada an bóthar nach mbíonn casadh ann.

Goiorraíonn beirt bóthar.

Tig leat déanamh gan do dhaoine féin;
má thá, cha dtig leat déanamh gan comhursanach.

Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine.

Más cosúil, is gaolmhar.

Goid ó ghadaí is goid gan peaca.

Ná pós fear (bean) gan locht,
Mar níl a leithéid ann.
	   
Ná pós bean (fear) ar a spré
Is ná pós bean (fear) gan é.
    
Ní féasta go rósta
Is ní céasta go pósta.

Más é moladh atá uait, faigh bás.
Más é cáineadh atá uait, pós.
	     
Is rí gach duine ar a thoil.
Everyone is a master of his own desires.

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Tá sé ar mhuin na muice.
= He's on top of the world. (lit., He's on the pig's back.)

Tá éisteacht na muice bradaí agat.
= You have sharp ears. (lit., You have the hearing of the thieving pig.)

Ní fiú tufóg mhuice é.
= It's not worth a rat's ass. (lit., It's not worth a pig's fart.)

Thug sí íde na muc is na madraí dó.
= She really chewed him out, lambasted him.
  (lit., She gave him the abuse of the pigs and the dogs.)

Is iad na muca ciúine a itheann an mhin.
= It's the quiet pigs that eat the meal [ground grain].

  Ciallaíonn sé go bhfuil daoine ciúine, nach dtarraingíonn aird orthu
  féin, in ann soláthar dóibh féin go han-mhaith.

  (It means that quiet people, who do not attract a lot of attention, are
  quite capable of taking care of themselves.)

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Is fíor go bhfuil féar fíor an fhir níos fearr ná fear an fhéir.
(It's true that straw in the shape of a man is better than a man of straw)

Ní raibh barr chleite isteach ná bun chleite amach.
(The tip of a feather was not sticking in nor its base sticking out.)
(Everything was as it should be.)
(Ship shape and Bristol fashion)

Ní easpa go díth carad.
(There is no need like the lack of a friend)

Is minic a théann an bhréag níos faide ná an fhírinne.
(The lie often lasts longer than the truth.)

An turas is faide sa tsaol, tosnaíonn sé le coiscéim bheag amháin.

Ní folamh é an gleann a mbíonn an t-uisce ann.
(The valley where the water is isn't empty.)

Is glas iad na cnoic i gcéin ach ní féarmhar.
(The far away hills are green, but they are not grassy.)
(The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.)

Bionn luibh nó leigheas in aghaidh gach galair,
   dá mbuailfeadh tamall fír nó mná;
ach téann an leisce go dtí'n smior,
   a's fanann sé ansin go brach."

Éist le fuaim na habhann agus gheobhaidh tú breac.
(Listen to the sound of the river and you will get a trout.)
(Rome wasn't built in a day.)

De réir a chéile a thógtar na caisleáin.
(It takes time to build castles.)
(Rome wasn't built in a day.)

"Ní gabháil go lánseol agus ní balla go huillinn."
(Not a fully fledged sailor unless you've sailed under full sail, and
you have not built a wall unless you have rounded a corner.)

"Is maith an capall a tharraingíos a charr féin."
(It's a good horse that pulls his own cart.)

"Dhá thrian den obair í an chosúlacht."
(2/3 of the work is the semblance.)

Is teann é an madadh gearr ag doras a thí fhéin.
(The short dog is fierce in the door of his own house.)

Má bhuaileann tú mo mhadra, buailfidh tú mé féin.
(If you hit my dog, you hit me.)

Is lú ná fríd máthair an oilc.

Ní bhíonn tairbhe gan trioblóid.

An té a dtéann cáil na mochéirí amach dó ní miste dó codladh go meánlae.
(If you're known for early rising you can sleep until noon.)

Is fearr glas ná amhras.
(A lock is better than suspicion.)

Is deacair adharca a chur ar bhó mhaol.
(It's hard to put horns on a hornless cow.)
(You can't teach an old dog new tricks.)

Is deacair rath a chur ar dhuine dá ainneoin.
(It's hard to make a man prosperous in spite of himself.)

Ní troimde don loch an lacha,
Ní troimde don each a shrian,
Ní troimde don chaora an ollann agus
Ní troimde don cholann an chiall.

Níl cnámh ar bith sa teanga ach is minic a bhris sí cloigeann duine.
(The tongue has no bone at all but it often breaks someone's skull.)

Is leor ó Mhór a dicheall.
(One can only do one's best.)

Cailín ag Mór agus Mór ag iarraidh déirce.
(Mór has a maid but yet she has to beg.)

Taobhann an t-ádh leis an laoch
(Fortune favours the brave)

Dá olc is é Séamas, is fearr é na bheith ina éamais.

Ní dhóann an sean chat é fhéin.

Is minic a bhí cú mall subháilceach.

Is geal leis an bhfiach dubh a ghearrcach féin
(Every old crow thinks her chick is as white as snow)
An cóngar chun an bhídh agus an timpeall chun na hoibre. (Take the shortcut to the food and the long way round to work.) Níl breith ar an gcloch a chaitear.
 
2005-10-28 CPD