I teach Irish to small children, so I want to teach them Irish that's correct. Today, however, I came a cropper.

Growing up in Kerry we always said "Lá arna amárach" (dodgy spelling, I'm sure, but we spoke more than we wrote) for the day after tomorrow, pronounced, "law or/na w-awe/rock", that's as close as I can get the phonetics.

But it doesn't exist in the De Bhalraithe, he has "arú amárach" which is fine and is easier to say, so I don't have a problem there.
But what was I saying all my childhood?
My husband who's from Conamara understands what I'm saying as well, but he'd say "arú amárach". Again that's fine.

If anyone can enlighten me I'd be grateful. I've been saying both all day and both sound fine to me.

arú amárach = the day after tomorrow

lá arna mhárach = on the following day, 'on the morrow'

Mar shampla:

Bhí sé i nGaillimh Dé Luain agus tháinig sé abhaile lá arna mhárach.

= He was in Galway on Monday and he came home the following day.

In that context it wouldn't make sense to say "amárach" or "arú amárach" or anything else that is fixed in relation to the day on which the speaker is talking. You could say "an chéad lá eile".

GRMA , Dennis, as do mhiniú soiléir. Tá sé agam anois.

(Message edited by scathach on March 26, 2007)