The Irish Alphabet | Fadas | Irish Proverbs | Irish Toasts | Irish Curses

The Irish Alphabet
	Interesting facts about the Irish alphabet: Traditionally, Irish uses only 18 letters: 5 vowels-a e i o u 13 consonants - b c d f g h l m n p r s t The other letters - j k q v w x y z - are used in foreign words, mathematics, scientific terms, etc   <<back to top of page>>

Fadas

Ever wonder how to apply accent marks over your letters? It's very simple! The accent marks are called "fadas". FOR WINDOWS: You hold down your "alt" key and from the numeric keypad on your key board, key in the numbers following each corresponding letter shown below. After keying in the required numbers, release the alt key. For example: á is created by pressing down the alt key on your keyboard, key in the numbers 0193, then release the alt key--viola! WINDOWS á - 0225 é - 0233 í - 0237 ó - 0243 ú - 0250 Á - 0193 É - 0201 Í - 0205 Ó - 0211 Ú - 0218 FOR MACS: Hold down the "option" key, press the "e" key, release the "option" key, then press the desired vowel letter (a,e,i,o, or u) key. Most people get confused because to create the fada over "any" vowel, you must press the letter "e" key before you press the desired vowel key. For example: to create an "ó": Hold down the "option" key at the bottom of the keyboard, press the letter "e" key, release the "option", press the letter "o" key and so forth for each vowel. The great thing about fadas is that that they are cross-browser capable. <<back to top of page>>

Short Irish Proverbs
	Proverbs ~A man with no wit has little on a pig~ ~Burning the candle at both ends will soon leave you without a light~ ~The truth comes out when the spirit goes in.~ <<back to top of page>>

Irish Toasts
	Toasts ~ May your glass be ever full. May the roof over your head be always strong. And may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead.~ ~ May those who love us love us. And those that don’t love us, May God turn their hearts. And if He doesn’t turn their hearts, May he turn their ankles, So we’ll know them by their limping. ~ <<back to top of page>>

Irish Curses in Gaelic
	Curses One should always be careful with the use of curses, no matter what language it is in. 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 <<back to top of page>>

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