Having said that Niamh outshone Gormfhlaith in beauty:

quote:

Pé áilneacht a chífí inti an fhaid a bhéadh sí ’n-a h-aonar do thiocfadh claoídhchlódh ar an áilneacht san nuair a curfaí ’n-a seasamh i n-aice Niamh í. Bhí daoine ag tusnughadh ar a thabhairt fé ndeara ná bíodh iomláine blátha ar áilneacht Ghormfhlaith féin, le deiriníghe, nuair a chítí Niamh ’n-a h-aice.

but then it says this a couple of pages later:

quote:

Fágfar an Árdrígan i gCeann Cora os cionn an ríghtheighlaigh. Ní féidir di aon droch nídh a dhéanamh an fhaid a bheidh an t-Árdrígh ar a chuaird. Ní foláir duit-se dul leis, a Thaidhg, agus ní foláir duit Niamh a bhreith leat. Má tá sí ag dul as tabharfaidh an chuaird tar n-ais ’n-a maise féin airís í, geallaim dhuit é.

Does maise have to mean "beauty", as Niamh seems to be getting ill with Gormfhlaith's machinations, but she is still said to outshine her in the beauty stakes. Could: ina maise féin airís just mean "her old self again" without specifically meaning physical comeliness?

"will bring her back to her own beautiful self", "will restore the beauty to her cheeks" or something like that. I don't see "duine a thabhairt thar n-ais 'na mhaise féin" as meaning "back to one's old self again" in either Ó Dónaill or Dinneen or DIL so it must be a reference to her beauty or comeliness.

quote:

Má tá sí ag dul as tabharfaidh an chuaird tar n-ais ’n-a maise féin airís í, geallaim dhuit é.

If she is fainting or growing frail? Unusual use of "má tá" instead of "má bhíonn" here.

N'fheadar. Más rud é go raibh a riocht á phlé acu, agus gurbh é seo an fhreagra, bheadh ciall le "má tá" seachas "má bhíonn"

i. if it is the case that she is grwoing frail, I promise you that the visit will restore her bloom.

(Nothing like a bit of bitchy intrigue and one up womanship to restore one's bloom)

Yes you're right! It's referring to her present state.

Is "tá" atá ann, agus má tá tá an ceart aige.