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 mbeanna� Dia duit		May God bless you
  Go mbeanna� Dia is Muire duit	May God and Mary bless you

  Bail � Dhia ort		The blessing of God on you
  Bail � 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 r�ocht		May thy kingdom come
  N�r laga Dia do l�mh		May God not weaken your hand
  Gura sl�n an sc�ala�		May the bearer of the news be safe
  Gurab amhlaidh duit		The same to you
  T� f�ilte romhat		You are welcome

  Cad � (Goid�) mar t� t�?	How are you? (T�r Chonaill)
  C�n chaoi 'bhfuil t�?		How are you  (Connacht)
  Conas at� tu?	How are you? 	(Mumhan)

  T� m� go maith		I'm doing well

  An bhfuil aon rud �r ag dul?	What's new?
  Aon sc�al 'ad?		What's new? (Connacht)

  Sl�n leat			Good Bye (said to one going)
  Sl�n agat			Good Bye (said to one remaining)

  Sl�inte chugat		Good health to you
  Gabhaim pard�n agat		I beg your pardon
  Gabh mo leithsc�al		Pardon me (Lit. Accept my excuse)
  M�s � do thoil �		If you please
  Le do thoil			Please
  Breithl� shona duit		Happy birthday to you
  Saol fada chugat		Long life to you


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

  O�che mhaith duit		Good night
  Codladh s�mh duit		A pleasant sleep
  Nollaig shona duit		Happy Christmas
  Nollaig faoi sh�an is faoi	A prosperous and pleasant
   mhaise duit			Christmas
  Athbhliain faoi mhaise duit	A prosperous New Year


	Terms of Endearment

	 a ghr�	
	 a r�n
	 a st�r
	 a thaisce
	 a chro�
	 a chuisle
	my dear darling/love/treasure

	 muirn�n	
	 leann�n
	 c�adsearc
	sweetheart

	 a ghr� mo chro�
	love of my heart!

	Ta gr� agam duit.
	I love you.


	Curses

	 Imeacht gan teacht ort
	May you leave without returning

	 Titim gan �ir� ort	
	May you fall without rising

	 F�n fada ort	
	Long travels to you

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