I'm pretty good at reading Irish, but I find it hardest when it comes to all the proverbs. For instance:

Ná nocht d'fhiacla go bhféadair an greim do bhreith.

I learned Irish in a catholic school in Dublin... and there's a few things you don't learn in your years there.

Firstly:

"go bhféadair"

I didn't recognise this at all at first... I saw "féad" in there, so I knew it was something to do with ability, but I didn't know the tense nor the person.

Secondly:

"do bhreith"

Basically I wasn't told in school that this is the same as "a bhreith", and that the "a" actually comes from "do".

Here's how I wuda sed it:

Ná nocht d'fhiacail go bhféadann tú an greim an bhreith

(actually I'd use "go mb'fhéidir":
Ná nocht d'fhiacail go mb'fhéidir leat an greim a bhreith)

Here's one I don't yet understand -- it translates as "unity is strength":

Ní neart go cur le chéile

I know that "cur le chéile" means "piece together" as in "unite"... but I'm lost on the grammar that preceeds it. "neart" means strength/might, I know that. First thing I'm trying to understand is "ní"... I'm not sure whether it's the negative of "is", or if it's the noun which means "thing"... plus I'm lost on the usage of the preposition "go"? Any takers?

Ceisteanna maithe,

With 'ní neart go cur le chéile'

I read 'go' as 'till/to' and ní neart as not strength
-> Not strenght until unity

I'm not sure though as I'm a learner myself.

Oh I see, something along the lines of:

There won't be strength until we unite

maybe?

If I doctor it a little:

Ní bheidh neart againn go dtí go cuirimid le chéile

Still though there's a little voice telling me that the "ní" might be "rud".

Ní neart go cur le chéile
Ní féasta go rósta, ní céasta go pósta

Ní X go Y - X is not completely X until Y

Seanfhocal ar an múnla sin ón tseanlitríocht:

http://www.sengoidelc.com/node/188

Scríobh Aonghus -
'Ní X go Y - X is not completely X until Y'

Ar fheabhas, grmma a Aonghuis

Ná nocht d'fhiacla go bhféadair an greim do bhreith.

dont close the teeth till you have a hold?

Don't bare (show) your teeth until you are sure you will be able to bite. (to catch the bite)

A variation on "Don't count your chickens until they hatch".

(Message edited by aonghus on November 03, 2005)

Ar an bport céanna, ceann deas eile:

Ní breac go port é

Plenty more here

(Message edited by aonghus on November 03, 2005)

Is minic a leim an breac amuigh den bruach.

As for counting chickens prematurely, féach freisin:

http://www.sengoidelc.com/node/24

fagin pardun agam
ba cheart dom a ra
Is minic a leim an breac amach den bruach.

As "An Béal Beo" ag trácht ar an Fhiannaíocht, i.e. scéalta na Féinne

"Bhí an-mheas ar Chud mac Rí na hIorua mar scéal: 'ní scéal go scéal Chuid' a deiridís, agus ní laoi go Laoi an Deirg'