A Chairde,

I don't know why, but 'Laicín' has been floating around my head all day. I bookmarked a site two years ago, but it seems to have vanished. It had a huge glossary of Shelta words, some blanked out for obvious reasons.

Are there any Irish Travellers left that speak it? If not, they must still retain many Shelta words in day-to-day speech, surely?

Does anyone know of a documentary about the Travellers and/or Shelta? RTÉ must have something. Perhaps TG4 would consider doing a docu about it.

Does anyone have any good resources for Shelta online? It really facinates me.

GRMA

The difficulty is that is a private or code language, not spoken to outsiders.

There have been attempts, and even courses to teach young travellers.

I think it is also called Cant and Gammon - that might help you find more online.

I have only heard of the language being called "Cant" never Shelta as you mentioned.

There are indeed organisations who i think may be of use to you. Try getting in contact with Pavee point > www.paveepoint.ie

With Wikipedia, definitely remember it's all "caveat emptor" but it's a good general overview.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelta

This I found to be very interesting (taken directly from the above link):

Mwilsha's gater, swart a manyath, (Shelta)
Our gathra, who cradgies in the manyak-norch, (Cant)
Our Father, who art in heaven, (English)
Ár n-Athair atá ar neamh, (Irish)

Manyi graw a kradji dilsha's manik.
We turry kerrath about your moniker.
Hallowed be thy Name.
Go naofar d'ainm,

Graw bi greydid, sheydi laadu
Let's turry to the norch where your jeel cradgies,
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done,
Go dtaga do ríocht, Go ndéantar do thoil

Az aswart in manyath.
And let your jeel shans get greydied nosher same as it is where you cradgie.
On earth as it is in heaven.
ar an talamh, mar a dhéantar ar neamh.

Bag mwilsha talosk minyart goshta dura.
Bug us eynik to lush this thullis,
Give us this day our daily bread.
Ár n-arán laethúil tabhair dúinn inniu,

Geychel aur shaaku areyk mwilsha
And turri us you're nijesh sharrig for the gammy eyniks we greydied
And forgive us our trespasses,
Agus maith dúinn ár bhfiacha

Geychas needjas greydi gyamyath mwilsha.
Just like we ain't sharrig at the gammi needies that greydi the same to us.
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
Mar a mhaithimidne dár bhféichiúna féin

Nijesh solk mwil start gyamyath,
Nijesh let us soonie eyniks that'll make us greydi gammy eyniks,
And lead us not into temptation,
Ach ná lig sinn i gcathú

Bat bog mwilsha ahim gyamyath.
But solk us away from the taddy.
But deliver us from evil.
Ach saor sinn ó olc.

Diyil the sridag, taajirath an manyath
[no Cant]
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
Mar is leatsa an ríocht, an chumhacht, agus an ghlóir

Gradum a gradum.
[no Cant]
For ever and ever.
Trí shaol na saol.

[no Shelta]
[no Cant]
Amen.
Amen.