Dear Friends,

I've got an Irish friend and would like to surprise her even further! She's sent me this message after my "birthday card in Irish" surprise which I prepared using resources on the net.

You will make me very happy if you could translate her message to English.

Regards,

PS: My love for the language started after seeing Michael Collins-the movie and listening to Gaelic Storm.

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go neiri an bothar leat agus rudai eile

ta suil agam go bhfuil tu go maith agus gur bhain tu an-taitneamh as an deireadh seachtain seo chaite.

Go raibh mile maith agat as ucht an brontannas alainn agus an carta iontach.

Ni doigh liom go mbeidh me ag dul go Nudgee ach ba bhrea liom teacht le haghaidh dinneir.

Slan go foill,

Do chara,
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May the road rise with you and other things.
I hope you are well and that you really enjoyed last weekend.
A thousand thanks for the lovely present and the great card.
I don't think I'll be going to Nudgee but I'd like to come for dinner.
Bye for now,
Your friend,

"May the road rise with you" is how the first phrase is often translated. It's supposed to be a blessing for someone leaving or going on a journey of whatever duration.

Ah Máire, ná bí ag scaipeadh an droch aistriúcháin sin ar go n-eirí an bóthar leat.

Go n-eirí an bóthar leat could be far better translated as "may you have a successful journey"

Ach cad iad na "rudaí eile" a bheadh ag éirí, a Aonghus??? B'fhéidir gur comhrá lánúine atá ar siúl anseo eatarthu agus cha raibh uaim aon chuid den débhrí, más ann dó, a chailleadh san aistriúchán. 'dTuigeann tú leat mé (go maithe Dia dom)?

Thank you so much!!!

Although I didn't understand the last two gaelic messages, I am verry happy now. Many thanks...

PS: Let me know if you want to say/understand anything in Turkish.
(Not: Eger Turkce bir sey soylemek/anlamak isterseniz soyleyin.)

Go raibh maith agat!

re: go n-eiri an bothar leat.....Aonghus, I get tired of that literal translation too, especially when I see it in pubs and on T Shirts etc., also Arkin, journey can mean 'life' so it is a way of saying 'Good Luck in whatever you do...'

The 'to meet you' part isn't even literal. It's a folksy mistranslation of the phrase. Often we see people make up flowery, sentimental stuff which they then call "Irish". When this kind of fanciful language is forced onto existing Irish material it's time to object. The same when people ask to have their own pseudo-Irish creations translated into Irish. I don't like to put things so strongly but people should not trash our heritage.

Maith an fear, Seosamh.
I agree. Strongly!

Droch-choinsias a ghríosaigh mé leis an méid sin thuas a scríobh. D'iarr mac léinn orm ar na mallaibh Gaeilge a chur ar bheannacht fhada bhláfar agus ghéill mé di. Ar an teorainn idir inghlactha agus doghlactha atá an dán, beannacht nó 'priosla' atá i gceist. As leabhairín nua beannachtaí 'Éireannacha' a tháinig sé a chuir foilsitheoir Sasanach amach agus nach bhfuil aon údar luaite ann. An bhfaca éinne an leabhar seo? Barúil ag duine ar bith? An aithníonn sibh rud ar bith sa leabhar??

I hope Mr. Demir didn't think I was in any way referring to him. I think his interest in Irish culture is wonderful.