Dia Daoibh,

This coming summer the family and I will be making our first (albeit way too short) trip to Ireland.
We will be there for a week landing in Dublin and flying out of Cork en route to visit my mother in Yorkshire, England.
While in West Cork we will be staying a couple of nights in a B&B in Kilnamartyra in the Múscraí Gaeltecht.
We will be visiting the local toy soldier factory, making a trip down to Kilmichael and checking out the sights of Macroom.
My question is, is anyone out there familiar with the area and could you tell me about a few nuggets that the guide books and the internet don't know about?
Good pubs, good sessions, resturants or cafes with that something special or hidden gems off the beaten path.
I would really appreciate any info.

While in the Gaeltecht I am hoping to try out my very limited Irish.
I should be O.K. with the few basic survival phrases that I know; Dia dhuit, Conas tá tú, Is mise Garth, Tá tart orm, Ba mhaith liom pint a Guinness le do thoil, Go raibh maith agat, etc
But a few phrases that I might find helpful would be:
"I have very little Irish."
"How do you say..........in Irish?"
"Could you repeat that."
or
"Could you say that again ,please."

If someone could translate those into Munster Irish I would be most graeful.

Go Raibh maith agat.

Garth

"I have very little Irish." (but I do be learning.sic)
Níl mórán Gaolainne agam (ach bím ag foghlaim.)

"How do you say..........in Irish?"
Conas a déarfá ..............as Gaolainn? (as Gaeilge?)

"Could you repeat that."
Abair é sin arís le do thoil. (Say that again, please.)
Cad deir tú? (What do you say?)

or
"Could you say that again ,please."
Ar mhiste leat é sin a rá arís, le do thoil.

When I went to Múscraí a few years ago, the most helpful phrase for me was:

Cad dúraís? - What did you say?

With the stress on the "eeeeesh" - i.e. the second syllable: Cad dúraíííííís?

I forgot that. Don't they say "Conas taoi?" instead of "Conas atá tú?" as well?

Tá an ceart agat a Thaidhg, the normal way to say "How are you?" is either Conas taoi? or Conas tánn tú?

Taidhín agus Wee falorie man,

Thanks for your feedback.
From what I am gathering from your good selves and others I have made similar enquiries with, it seems Munster Irish is somewhat removed from "standard Irish", if there is even such a thing.

In general, do locals appreciate tourists attemping to speak Irish, especially bad, limited, self taught Irish or do they find such creatures a royal pain in the arse and want nothing to do with them?

The last thing I want to do is be seen as just another tourist who's only reason to be in Ireland is to kiss the Blarny Stone, buy an Aran sweater and head back home with a bottle of Middleton Old Rare and a shamrock key ring.

Garth

Most native speakers will be delighted you are making an effort to speak Irish to them, especially as you are a tourist! (you will get more kudos for this than an Irish person would so don't worry about the tourist side of things!). Basically if a place is used to visitors and tourists coming and going the people there will normally be extremely friendly- for example in Dingle, Co. Kerry. Of course there are cranks here in Ireland like everywhere!!

Just bear in mind and don't take it personally if they don't understand you - just speak slowly and you'll be understood..

Talk away gstone.Conas tánn tú my gaeilgeoir lady says.She's originally from Inchigeelagh ,not too far from your destination.

The toy soldier place is good fun if you are bringing kids,especially.That man's son won a prize for reciting or singing as gaeilge ( I think!).He is a German speaker who seems to have no trouble blending in.You must see gougane Barra,just because it is so beautiful.And ask for the grave of the Tailor and Ansty.The barmaid at the hotel was very patient with my gaeilge briste, but I didnt hear it very often otherwise.Cúil Aodh is the heart of the Muscraí Gaeltacht.You may hear a few conversations in the Mills Hotel Ballyvourney,also.All you need is a bit of sunshine.Tá suil agam go mbéidg sé tirim at least.

Sinedw agus Macdara,

Go raibh maith agaibh for the info.
Hopefully I can make use of it on the trip.

Garth

Another phrase that might come in handy:

"Could you say that a little slower please."


GRMA

Garth

Abair arís le d'thoil -Say again please

Tá tú ag dul ró thapaigh! -you are going too fast!

Ara, abair go mall é is ná bí ag cogaint do chuid focal!
Would you ever say it slowly and don't be chewing on your words!
On second thoughts it might be better to ignore that one unless you want an uppercut that will land you "ar fhleasc do dhroma" in the ditch. [... in the "sioch" of my childhood.]

>>>The last thing I want to do is be seen as just another tourist who's only reason to be in Ireland is to kiss the Blarny Stone, buy an Aran sweater and head back home with a bottle of Middleton Old Rare and a shamrock key ring.

Why not? Tourism is a business in Ireland and Ireland does need tourists willing to buy the odd souvenir at the moment. I wouldn't feel too guilty about being a tourist. But Ireland is an expensive country - be prepared for that!

As for Munster Irish, not everyone in Kilnamartyra will be speaking it - your "Gaeltacht shock" may be when you fail to notice you are in an Irish-speaking area! They will understand standard Irish no problem and appreciate your interest in the language, and your B&B lady will probably try to give you some opportunities to practice the language.

Hi David,

Thanks for the input.

Don't misunderstand me. Living in San Diego I know that tourism is the life blood of some communities and locally produced souveniers are sometimes peoples only souce of income.
What I meant was that if you are going to visit a country at least try to learn a little bit about their culture and history. Not only are you educating yourself but it also makes your visit a lot more enjoyable and meaningful if you know the stories behind sites you are seeing; the beautiful manuscripts, the ruined monastaries, the miles of stone walls or the crude looking souvenier rosary with just one decade.

I never even thought about the landlady at the B&B. She will be a captive audience. I just hope she has a lot of patience and a good sense of humour.

Garth