Hello all,

I am just curious if the Táin Bó Cúailnge was ever translated into Modern Irish. I know there are several English translations, but it would be wonderful to try it in Irish.

Thanks for any responses!

(I also wish to thank Séanw and Obuadhaigh for helping me on an early thread.)

quote:

(I also wish to thank Séanw and Obuadhaigh for helping me on an early thread.)

Any time. I am glad I can be a help and not a hiderance!

Darran, the answer is yes, sort of. Peadar Ua Laoghaire modernised is as Táin Bó Cuailgne ina Dhráma or something like that - but I don't think it was an exact translation, more like his own version. I read somewhere that whereas the original referred to a woman's thighs in one part, he replaced that sentence by something less racy, a word that sounded similarly but meant something totally different. He was a priest after all. I have a photocopy of PUL's version somewhere. I plan eventually to modernise the spelling and upload on the Internet, but I will complete my modernisation of the spelling of Niamh first and then do that. It's on my list.

And quite right he was too! Corrupting our youth with such filth! Now off you go and say three Hail Mary's and fifty three Our Fathers and wash that tongue of yours out with soap!

Seriously, though, you wouldn't believe the sorts of things that were censored in this country back in the "dark ages", from the twenties right up to the seventies.

Seachas sa Ghaeilge.....Níor cuireadh cosc ar an leagan Gaeilge de Chúirt an Mheán Oíche riamh, mar shampla.

Ach deineadh go leor leor cinsireachta ar théacsanna eile Gaelainne. Tá cur síos air sin in Stair na Gaeilge, más buan mo chuimhne, agus i leabhra eile.

Hi, A Charmanaigh, Do you intend to say that the sixties and the seventies were still dark ages . Wow!

In a way, they were: there was a Catholic Puritan mindset in Ireland which did a lot of damage:

There was State Censorhip of books: but also self censorship by authors (and especially) editors which is probably worse.

(Message edited by aonghus on October 14, 2010)

Go deimhin duit, tá blas láidir bun-Chaitliceach Rómhánach ar chuid mhaith dos na téarmaí a ceapadh san aimsir sin:

"ginmhilleadh" - gin a "mhilleadh"
"féintruailliú" - duine á "thruailliú" féin
"colscaradh" - scaradh go raibh "col" ag an Vatacáin leis
"aindiachaí" - réimír dhiúltach ain-, drochdhaoine amuigh is amach iad na "atheists"

Is mithid duit féachaint ar na téarmaí Béarla dóibh seo: cé go bhfuil an doicheall ceilte ag Laidin, tá sé ann, agus bhí riamh.

Go bhfios dom, is i bhfad roimhe a ceapadh cuid de na téarmaí úd.

Tá an chiall gaol ag col chomh maith, dála an scéil.

atheist < atheism < Gréigis atheos (in éagmais) + theos (dia)
abortion < abort < Laidin aboriri "scaradh le clann", < ab "amach ó" + orirí "saolú"
masturbation < masturbat, masturbari, ní fios a bhunús
divorce < divortium < divertere < di "i leataobh" + vertere "casadh".

Ní léir domsa aon doicheall a bheith leo san ná aon phiúrtánachas.

Maidir le "col", is léir gur scaradh go bhfuil cosc air nó gur drochbheart é "colscaradh".

Is léir, cinnte, agus is ea!

B'fhearr dúinn áfach scaradh leis an gceist nó tiocfaidh colanna eile chun cinn, ...

To Jehan: Yes! Remember divorce was illegal in this state until 1995. Contraception was illegal until 1980. Abortion is still illegal. Homosexual acts were a criminal offence until 1993. We've just enacted a Civil Partnership Act here in the face of stiff resistence from fundamentalist Roman Catholic elements in parliament. Things have changed for the better, but it has been a slow process.

quote:

Things have changed for the better, but it has been a slow process.

Obviously you can see here his particular viewpoint on things. I hope Jehan you still have some discernment. I think it is easily proven that Ireland has eaten from the same poisoned bowl that we all have. It looks tasty, and may well be 99% health giving. The 1% though is deadly. But I think the bowl is not even that healthy now.

As regards the "Catholic Puritan mindset", one would be well to compare that mindset to the rest of humanity since the dawn of time. That mindset had more in common with the bulk of our ancestors from all cultures than with the current movement. Certainly we can point out how morals were taught and enforced in an imprudent way, perhaps overzealous or controlling, and damage was done, but they had the right ideas and the right morals. Perhaps they saw what was coming!

As with words, it is not just Catholic influence, it was in fact reality.

ginmhilleadh: destruction of foetus

Maybe you can name it happy-carving-session.

féintruailliú: self-defilement

Rename: self-control

colscaradh: unlawful separation

Rename: Let-every-man-rent-asunder! OR dating

aindiachaí: not-believer-in-God

Rename: good-not-believer-in-God

atheist: without-a god

Rename: with-myself

abortion: away-from-rising [being born]
Rename: toward-the-grave [or in this case, the trashcan]

masturbation: (perhaps) defilement by hand [manus + stupro]

Rename: My only love

divorce: separation (from one another)

Rename: ideal-condition-for-raising-children

Interestingly, you find these to be Catholic foibles. I used to be Buddhist, and most these were sins according to their morality also. I guess the Indians weren't enlightened either. Hmm ...

Ah heck, Seán, I had this deadly joke I wanted to tell yous about Joseph Ratzinger and his pet stick insect "Dermot" but you've totally put me off me stride, man!!

Anyway, we really are not all that crazy here in Ireland Jehan. Most of the people of Ireland would disagree with the sentiments of Seán Whittle, but there are still a few "dissidents" limping around the place. As Gerry Adams once said about dissidents of a different (but closely related) sort: "They haven't gone away, you know . . . ". ;)

Oh, and one more thing, Jehan, I actually was born in this country, grew up here and still live here, work here and pay my taxes here. I just wanted to clarify that lest undue attention be given to the ranting of certain individuals in a foreign state on this forum.

I'm going to follow Aonghus's advice and suggest we stick to language matters.

Good out, Carmanach, that way you don't have to defend your ideas. Since when did morals observe a boundary, unless the Irish people are somehow fundamentally different than the rest of us? As for following Aonghus' advice, I believe you were the one to open the tangent.