"Shanet a boo" is supposed to be a Dalton-Fitzgerald family motto. Could someone please translate? Thank you.

"Shanet" puzzles me. I can't find a decent, context worthy, translation for it. "Aboo" however, would be "abú" which loosely translate to "long live" or "up with." I've heard it in Irish folk songs with revolutionary themes and it runs pretty common in other Irish family mottos.

"Shanet" may be the name of a family estate or castle as this was another common theme. Septs would adopt the name of the estate or castle in thier war cry. This would be to "Remember the Alamo" for Texans.

Hope this helps. If I'm off the mark there will be others to put things straight.

James

Is dócha go bhfuil an ceart ag James. He's probably right. MacLysaght gives "Shanid abú" as the warcry of the Desmond branch of the Fitzgeralds (and "Crom abú" for the Kildares). He doesn't indicate what it means but I would bet that, as James suggests, the family was centered in a specific place, probably Seanaid in Co. Limerick ("Shanid" is the Anglicized version).

MacL. gives that info. at the end of a fascinating paragraph that is mostly devoted to the story of Thomas, the son of Maurice Fitzgerald. When he was an infant he was temporarily abducted by a "tame" ape who took him to the battlements atop the castle, to the horror of the family. Fun over, the ape returned him to his cradle unharmed. Thomas became known in Irish as Tomás an Ápa and in Latin as Thomas Simiacus. Oh, those family stories.

Thank you James and Seosamh for your translation and explanation of the war cry. Appreciate your time and consideration.
Thanks, again.
K.T.