Bhí finne agus solasmhaire agus gileacht na hiníne ann, agus bhí folt óir na hiníne air; an t-ualach órga ar a cheann agus anuas ar a ghuallibh agus ar a shlinneánaibh.

I normally have "foilt" pidgeon-holed as "locks, tresses", but here we have folt óir - a golden head of hair. And then ualach órga. Would folt óir and ualach órga be exactly equivalent in meaning? Or folt as "head of hair on the head" and ualach as the tresses that flow down the next and over the shoulders?

Ualach is weight or load.

"an t-ualach órga ar a cheann agus anuas ar a ghuallibh agus ar a shlinneánaibh" is describing "folt na hiníne"

(Message edited by aonghus on January 04, 2011)

yes weight or load, but a very funny way of referring to hair.

Not if it were particularly luxurious, which I assume is what is meant here.

It's an odd passage - is it describing a portrait, or a man who strongly resembles the woman?

(Message edited by aonghus on January 04, 2011)

quote:

Bhí finne agus solasmhaire agus gileacht na hiníne ann, agus bhí folt óir na hiníne air; an t-ualach órga ar a cheann agus anuas ar a ghuallibh agus ar a shlinneánaibh.

I presume this passage is referring to the son of the daughter in question. "ualach" is literally a "burden" or "heavy load" and refers to the thickness and weight of the hair on his head.

Another word for "ualach" is "eire" and can be used in similar situations: bhí sé d'eire orm é a dhéanamh.

Aonghus, it is a man who is as goodlooking as his sister! And as someone who is just beginning to lose hair on top, I now begin to notice how luxurious the hair of young people is! Talk about jealous!

Speaking of hair - or lack of it - "pláitín dearg" in Corca Dhuibhne means a bald man who has been sunburned on top, on his bald pate! I also have "pláitíneach" as an adjective from Ger Ó Cíobháin: "Bhí sé pláitíneach ar fad, a déarfá".