If I'm dedicating something "to the family" with the implication being my entire living family, all ancestors who went before, plus generations yet unborn I would use the word muintir and not teaghlach, right?

right, but if you use "muintear Shé" or the like. "mo mhuintear" on its own means "my parents".

(Message edited by Róman on September 29, 2007)

I was going to say
"don mhuintir" (for the family)

(it's a book dedication)

(Message edited by antaine on September 29, 2007)

That was my point - I still think you should rather write "do mhuintir Costello" or something like this. "Don mhuintir" is not clear - to whose family it is addressed, or even if it is family at all. Remember that you have expression like "muintear na hÉireann" - so "an mhuintear" is really very ambiguous.

But if you write "do mhuintir Costello" it excludes those on the maternal side whose name would be different.

I didn't say I knew the answer, just drawing attention to the fact that "don mhuintir" is not ok

How about

"Do mo ghaolta go léir" (To all my relatives).

That avoids the problem, and covers what you want.

Or to be complete:

Do mo shinsir, mo theaghlach, agus mo shliocht!

hm, that might be best. About eight surnames are involved.

Antaine, I think it would be ok for you to say, 'do mo mhuintir', or 'dom' mhuintir', if you are dedicating it 'to my people', ie, to your extended family on both sides without naming them. Lets see what the others think of that.

Seanfhear

Bheadh "do mo mhuintir" go breá, cé nach bhfuil sé saor ó débhrí.