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The Daltaí Boards » Archive: 2005- » 2006 (July-August) » Archive through July 17, 2006 » Buailtir Cabir a Buaigh? « Previous Next »

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Lúcas
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Username: Lúcas

Post Number: 252
Registered: 01-2004


Posted on Sunday, July 09, 2006 - 12:11 pm:   Small TextLarge TextEdit Post Print Post

I am told that the family motto for the McSweeney (Mac Suibhne) clan is "Buailtir Cabir a Buaigh." I was asked to translate this for a friend of my wife, but it does not look familiar to me. Is it Old Irish? Middle Irish? a dialect of Irish? Some other Celtic language?

What does it mean? I searched the Internet and found two translations:
the strike for victory
and
strike for victory
This suggests that buailtir might be equivalent to buailtear, the impersonal command for strike in Modern Irish and buaigh may be the equvalent of bua, the noun for victory in Modern Irish.

However, I am stuck on cabir and the particle a. What do they mean? Is cabir a form of cab for mouth?
Let the mouth be struck for victory?
Or, is cabir an old form of cabaire, the word for blabber or excessive talker?
Let the blabbermouth be hit for victory?
I know bua is an abstract noun and the particle a before it indicates the degree of victory, often translated as how, or, I guess in this case, how victorious.
Let the blabbermouth be hit as hard as the greatness of the victory desired?
In other words, who, or what are the McSweeney's hitting, and why are they doing it?

(Message edited by Lúcas on July 09, 2006)

Mise le meas,

Lúcas
Ceartaigh mo chuid Gaeilge, mura miste leat .

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Maidhc_Ó_g
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Username: Maidhc_Ó_g

Post Number: 226
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Sunday, July 09, 2006 - 01:19 pm:   Small TextLarge TextEdit Post Print Post

To me, it looks more like "buailteoir cabhair a buaigh". Níl cinnteach orm, ach. Loosely, 'To the victor the spoils'.

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Maidhc_Ó_g
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Username: Maidhc_Ó_g

Post Number: 227
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Sunday, July 09, 2006 - 02:47 pm:   Small TextLarge TextEdit Post Print Post

Aw wait, I see. Strike for victory, of course. But still, buailteoir cabhair a buaigh.

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Odwyer
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Username: Odwyer

Post Number: 104
Registered: 05-2006


Posted on Sunday, July 09, 2006 - 08:31 pm:   Small TextLarge TextEdit Post Print Post

O'Dwyer motto = Virtue is the only nobility

Translate, anyone?

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Maidhc_Ó_g
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Username: Maidhc_Ó_g

Post Number: 228
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 12:34 am:   Small TextLarge TextEdit Post Print Post

'Sí bua an aon-uaisleacht. (?)

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Aonghus
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Username: Aonghus

Post Number: 3391
Registered: 08-2004


Posted on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 08:29 am:   Small TextLarge TextEdit Post Print Post

"Suailce an t-aon uaisleacht" would be literal.

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Maidhc_Ó_g
Member
Username: Maidhc_Ó_g

Post Number: 229
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 05:35 pm:   Small TextLarge TextEdit Post Print Post

Or how about?
Beatha do Dhia an t-aon uaisleacht.

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Odwyer
Member
Username: Odwyer

Post Number: 105
Registered: 05-2006


Posted on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 10:28 pm:   Small TextLarge TextEdit Post Print Post

Is virtue nobility only?



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