Irish is a language related to Scots Gaelic, Breton
	and Welsh amongst others.  All belong the Celtic family,
	which is part of the Indo-European group of languages.
	(Irish is part of the "Q-Celtic" group of languages,
	with Scots Gaelic and Manx.  Welsh, Cornish and Breton
	belong to the "P-Celtic" branch.)

	Here are a few samples to whet your appetite.  Note that
	even greetings vary between the dialects.



  Dia duit			(Lit. God to you)
  Dia is Muire duit		(Lit. God and Mary to you)

  Go mbeannaí Dia duit		May God bless you
  Go mbeannaí Dia is Muire duit	May God and Mary bless you

  Bail ó Dhia ort		The blessing of God on you
  Bail ó Dhia is Muire duit	The blessing of God and Mary on you

  Go raibh maith agat		Thanks (Lit. May there be good at you)
  Go dtaga do ríocht		May thy kingdom come
  Nár laga Dia do lámh		May God not weaken your hand
  Gura slán an scéalaí		May the bearer of the news be safe
  Gurab amhlaidh duit		The same to you
  Tá fáilte romhat		You are welcome

  Cad é (Goidé) mar tá tú?	How are you? (Tír Chonaill)
  Cén chaoi 'bhfuil tú?		How are you  (Connacht)
  Conas atá tu?	How are you? 	(Mumhan)

  Tá mé go maith		I'm doing well

  An bhfuil aon rud úr ag dul?	What's new?
  Aon scéal 'ad?		What's new? (Connacht)

  Slán leat			Good Bye (said to one going)
  Slán agat			Good Bye (said to one remaining)

  Sláinte chugat		Good health to you
  Gabhaim pardún agat		I beg your pardon
  Gabh mo leithscéal		Pardon me (Lit. Accept my excuse)
  Más é do thoil é		If you please
  Le do thoil			Please
  Breithlá shona duit		Happy birthday to you
  Saol fada chugat		Long life to you


	For the following greetings Gorab amhlaidh duit is a common answer:

  Oíche mhaith duit		Good night
  Codladh sámh duit		A pleasant sleep
  Nollaig shona duit		Happy Christmas
  Nollaig faoi shéan is faoi	A prosperous and pleasant
   mhaise duit			Christmas
  Athbhliain faoi mhaise duit	A prosperous New Year


	Terms of Endearment

	 a ghrá	
	 a rún
	 a stór
	 a thaisce
	 a chroí
	 a chuisle
	my dear darling/love/treasure

	 muirnín	
	 leannán
	 céadsearc
	sweetheart

	 a ghrá mo chroí
	love of my heart!

	Ta grá agam duit.
	I love you.


	Curses

	 Imeacht gan teacht ort
	May you leave without returning

	 Titim gan éirí ort	
	May you fall without rising

	 Fán fada ort	
	Long travels to you

	 Go n-ithe an cat thú is go n-ithe an diabhal an cat
	May the cat eat you, and may the cat be eaten by the devil