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The Daltaí Boards » Archive: 2005- » 2009 (May-June) » Archive through June 12, 2009 » Mac Seáin nó Mac Sheán? « Previous Next »

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Aodhán Rua (Unregistered Guest)
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Posted on Tuesday, June 09, 2009 - 02:57 am:   Small TextLarge TextEdit Post Print Post

Hi,

I'm wondering how to write a man's name if his name was Tomás, the son of Seán Ó Néill. I was thinking Tomás mac Seáin Ó Néill but Seáin would not be caol le caol then. An bhfuil aon eolas agaibhse?

Táim buíoch díbh.

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Domhnaillín_breac_na_dtruslóg
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Username: Domhnaillín_breac_na_dtruslóg

Post Number: 601
Registered: 04-2008
Posted on Tuesday, June 09, 2009 - 11:45 pm:   Small TextLarge TextEdit Post Print Post

More common in colloquial Irish is to leave off the mac and simply use the father's name in the genitive, e.g. Tomás Sheáin. It was customary in many places to go back three generations, e.g. Feidhlimí Dhónaill Phroinsiais (father of Séamus Ó Grianna, known locally as Jimí Fheidhlimí) or Mici Sheáin Néill (another storyteller from Rann na Feirste).

But if you really want to say "son of Seán Ó Néill", the correct form is mac Seáin Néill. I don't understand your bit about caol le caol here since that principle only holds within words, not between them. (At least as far as spelling goes.)

(Message edited by Domhnaillín_Breac_na_dTruslóg on June 09, 2009)



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