Dia Daoibh,

Well I've given it a try, I've written my first attempt at an Irish journal (diary) entry. I am expecting countless problems with it. I wrote it in english and then translated as best I could into Irish. Of the many problems I encountered, the main difficulties I had was incorporating the word so, and finding the right ways to express my past tense (eg. lenition of words, order of words etc.)as most of it was written that way.

I hope it isn't too unintelligable. I've included the english original followed by my Irish translation. If anyone would like to help me on this I'd really appreciate it. There are a few things that I would ask of the kind soul(s) that assist me, if you could translate my english the way you would have written it, translate my Irish into english, and possibly advise me on the major mistakes I've made.

Don't fear, I will not be doing this every day, but probably a few times a week. If this is a burden please let me know, or if anyone would like to assist me via e-mail, that would be great.

Well, here it is...(fingers crossed)

Saturday, February 3rd, 2001

I woke up early this morning, at around 5:00 am. I couldn't sleep so I studied a bit of Irish. At 7:00 I went for breakfast and had an Irish Cream Coffee with Autumn Cream, a Dutch and Irish drink, it tasted fantastic. This is my first attempt at writing a journal in Irish so I will keep it short and stop here.


Now my Irish version.....


Dé Satharn, 3ú Feabhra, 2001

Bhí mé mhúscailte go luath ar maiden, i drátha a cúig a chlog. Ní raibh mé ábalta le codail sa déan staidér mé píosa de Gaeilge. Ar a seacht a chlog bhí mé ag d'ith bricfeasta, agus ag d'ol caife Gaelach Uachtar a bhfuil "Autumn Cream*", deoch Ollannach agus Gaelach, bhí sé blas fantaiseach.
Seo an iarracht an chéad mé ag scríobh diallann Gaelach seo beidh mé connigh sí gairid agus stad anseo.

*Autumn Cream is the label name of this booze, should I leave it as such or translate it into Uachtar Fómhar (or Fómhar Uachtar)?

Aagain if this translates into something completely odd, I apologize, I have to start somewhere. Without your help I would be running in circles.

Go raibh míle maith agat,
Alan Shepherd