Duinnín in Áth na Lachan

Dineen in Duckford

leannán, áin, pl id, m., a lover, paramour, concubine, favourite, leman ; also fig. a chronic ailment or infirmity . . . L. peacaidh, an habitual sin… L. sidhe, an endearing phantom, a phantom lover, al. fig. of a delicate person: an bás, death, is a L. sidhe for all (SR): L. sidhe is used smt. like musa as a source of poet. inspiration.

• ‘Mo nia, Bill,’ arsa Penelope de Brún leis an Athair Padraig, ‘tá sé cráite. bhí air a chara, Fayley Toole, a ghabháil, é a chúisiú i ndúnmharú, ar orduithe óna Sháirsint.
  ‘Do nia, Bill de Brún atá san R.I.C.?’ arsa an Duinníneach agus amhras an Náisiúintóra ina ghlor.
  

  ‘My nephew, Bill,’ said Penelope de Brún to Father Patrick, ‘he is tormented. He had to arrest his friend, Fayley Toole, who is accused of murder, on the orders of his Sergeant.’

  ‘Your nephew, Bill de Brún is in the R.I.C.?’ said Dineen with the suspicion of the Nationalist in his voice.

  nia	nephew	m
  cráite	Agonized, tormented, grieved
  cúisigh	Accuse; charge, prosecute

• Bhí an tAthair Pádraig céasta aici ar íorna olna agus ceirtlín á thochrais aice. Ba phríosúnach é agus bhí sé i gceist aici é a chiapadh.
  ´Tá sé bliana curtha isteach ag Bill ina phóilin i mBaile na gCreabhar agus tá ag éirí go maith leis, ach tá sé cráite i dtaobh Fayley Toole ó Ath na Lachan atá cúisithe i mbás Bhella Prunty. Dá mbeifeá sásta an scéal a iniúchadh …
  

  Father Pádraig had been tormented by her on a woolen tangle with an ball wrapped around it[?]. He was a prisoner and she had the intention to annoy him.

  Bill has put in six years as a policeman in Baile na gCreabhar and he is doing well, but he is worried about Fayley Toole from Duckford who is accused in the death of Bella Prunty. If you would be willing to examine the matter…

  céasta	tormented; Tormenting; miserable; crucified
  íorna	hank; Tangled skein; tangle	m
  ceirtlín	ball	m
  tochrais	wind (yarn)
  olann	wool	f gs olla, olna
  príosúnach	prisoner	m
  ciapadh	Annoyance, torment	m
  cúisigh	Accuse; charge, prosecute
  iniúchadh	scrutiny	m

• Má bhí Penelope ag súil go bpreabfadh an Duinníneach ar ar mbus go Baile na gCreabhar láithreach, bhí dul amú uirthi. Bhí [d l 147]sé ar gcúl lena chuid oibre agus bhí a chosa tinn clogach i ndiaidh dó bóithre na hEireann a shiúl. (féach Duinnin agus Caol an Iarainn) (see Dineen and the Iron strait)If Penelope expected Dineen to jump on a bus to Baile na gCreabhar immediately, she was mistaken. He was behind in his work and his feet were sore and blistered after walking the roads of Ireland.(See Dineen and the Iron Narrows)
  

  preab	start, spring, jump	v
  láithreach	Present, immediate
  amú	Wasted, in vain.
  caol	slender part	m
  clogach	blistered
  leathanach	page [of book, newspaper …]	m
  Deireadh leathanaigh 44	End of page 44

• ‘Ní bheifí buioch d’éinne ón taobh amuigh a bheadh ag iarraidh ladar a shá sa ghnó, a Phenelope. Chonaiceas an tuairisc ar na nuachtáin. Níor shéan Toole gur mharaigh sé Bella Prunty a bhí fostaithe aige mar bhean tí.
  ‘Deir Bill nach maródh Fayley duine ar bith ach tá dóthain fianaise ag na póilíní chun é a chrochadh ~ cad chuige go lorgóidís duine eile thairis?’
  

  ‘Anyone from the outside who would try to stick a ladle in the business would not be thanked, Penelope. You saw the report on the newspapers. Toole did not deny that he killed Bella Prunty who was employed by him as a housekeeper’

  ‘Bill says Fayley wouldn’t kill anyone but the police have enough evidence to hang him ~ Why would they look for someone else? [someone beyond him?]’

  ladar	ladle, lather	m
  sá	Thrust, stab; push, press; dart, lunge	m
  tuairisc	Information, tidings; account of whereabo	f
  fostaigh	Catch, hold fast, grip; Engage, retain in service; hire, employ
  séan	deny
  dóthain	Enough, sufficiency	f
  crochadh	hanging	m

• Lean sí ag tochrais go mall ar an gceirtlín. Bhí géaga an Duinninigh tinn óna bheith sínte amach roimhe agus bhí an seomra beag caoch, ar chúl shiopa milseán Phenelope, i Sráid Heytesbury, te, gan puinn aeir ann. ‘Tháinig tú i gcabhair go minic cheana ar na póilíní.’‘Nuair a bhí diabhal bocht éigin cúisithe in earráid nó …D’fhéach Penelope sna súile air agus íochtar an tsnáithe á tharraing isteach sa cheirtlin aici. Bhí deora sna súile.
  ‘Déan pota tae dom, a bhean chroí, agus féachfaidh mé cad té le déanamh.’
  

  She continued to slowly wind yarn on the ball. Dineen’s limbs were sore from being stretched out before him and the small room was closed up at the back of Penelope’s sweet shop, in Heytesbury Street, warm and airless.

  ‘You have come to the aid of the police often before.’

  ‘When some poor devil was accused by mistake or…’

  Penelope looked him in the eyes as she pulled the end of the thread into her ball. There were tears in her eyes.

  ‘Make me a pot of tea, dear lady, and I’ll see what to do.’

  tochrais	wind (yarn)
  ceirtlín	ball	m
  puinn	not much
  cheana	Already; Beforehand
  cúisigh	Accuse; charge, prosecute
  earráid	Error, mistake; errancy, aberration	f
  íochtar

• Thóg sé beart beag as a phóca. Bhí an beart fillte go néata i bpáipéar rua[!?] agus téad thart air. ‘Cheannaíos ispíní le súil is go bhfriochfá dom iad.’‘Aithnim ón bhfilleadh gur cheannaigh tú iad i siopa Harty’s i Sráid Thomáis,’ arsa Penelope agus an snaidhm á scaoileadh aici go cúramach. ‘Bhí sé ceaptha ag Dia go rachfá ann inniu! B’shin an siopa a bhiodh ag Michael Prunty sular dhiol sé le Harty, an búistéir, é. Chuala tú caint ar Prunty’s Haberdashery?’
  ‘Cheannaíos beaifití ann uair amháin, beaifití bán le go ndéanfaí[cond aut] bóna de.’
  

  He took a small bundle from his pocket. The bundle was neatly wrapped in red paper with a string around it.

  ‘I bought sausages hoping you’ll fry them for me.’

  ‘I recognize from the wrapping that you bought them at Harty’s in Thomas Street,’ said Penelope as she carefully untied the knot. ‘God intended for you to go there today! That was Michael Prunty’s shop before he sold it to Harty, the butcher. Have you heard talk about Prunty’s Haberdashery?’

  ‘I bought baft there once, white baft that would be made into a collar.’

  beart	bundle; covering, garment; cast, move [in game]	m
  téad	rope, string	f
  snaidhm	knot	f
  scaoil	Loose(n), release, discharge; Undo, untie, unfasten.
  beaifití	baft	m “a coarse fabric, usually cotton-based, made in India”
  bóna	collar; lapel; cuff	m

• ‘Bella Prunty, baintreach Mhichael, an bhean a [d l 148]
  maraiodh in Ath na Lachan.’

  
  ‘Bhí aithne agat uirthi?’
  

  ‘Bella Prunty, Michael’s widow, the woman who was killed in Duckford.’

  ‘Did you know her’

• ‘Ar éigean, a Athair, ní bhiodh sí riamh sa siopa. Bean Domhnaigh ab ea i, más fior . .. Deirtear gur chaith sí airgead Phrunty ar hata agus éadaí breátha, ach seans nach raibh ansin ach cúlchaint. Is fíor go raibh sí feistithe go deas aon uair go bhfaca mise í ach, mar is eol duit, a Athair dhil, an bhean atá dóighiúil is furasta a cóiriú … Ón uair gur tharla Bill a bheith buartha faoin gcás, spreagas[?] cuimhne na gcomharsan i dtaobh Mhuintir Phrunty. Is beag aithne a bhí ag éinne ar Bhella. D’fhanadh sí amuigh sa teach mór a bhí acu i gCill Inion Léinin, ag eagrú cóisirí cártai do mhná uaisle an cheantair. Bhiodh Prunty féin sa siopa agus beirt chúntóiri aige — Pete agus Margie. Cailleadh[past aut] mac le Bella agus Michael Prunty, an t-aon duine clainne, den bhfiabhras. Ní raibh croí Mhichael sa ghnó ina dhiaidh sin agus níor mhair sé i bhfad eile. Díoladh an siopa le Harty, an buiistéir. Caithfidh go raibh Prunty go domhain i bhfiacha, ón uair go raibh ar a bhaintreach dul ar aimsir i dteach feirmeora . .
  

  Hardly, Father, she would never be in the shop. She was a Sunday woman, if true. She is said to have spent Prunty’s money on fine hats and clothes, but maybe that was just backbiting. It is true that she was nicely well-dressed whenever I saw her but, as you know, dear Father, the woman who is beautiful is easy to dress… Since the time Bill was be perturbed about the situation, the memory of the neighbors about the Prunty people was encouraged. Little did anyone know about Bella. She stayed out in the big house they had in Killinion Leinin. Prunty himself would be in the shop with his two assistants — Pete and Margie. Bella and Michael Prunty lost a son, their only child [the only person in the family], of the fever. Michael’s heart was not in the business after that and he didn’t last much longer. The shop was sold to Harty, the butcher. Prunty must have been deeply in debt, since his widow had to be a maid in a farmer’s house. .

  cúlchaint	backbiting
  feistithe	well-dressed
  eol	know
  dil	Dear, beloved
  dóighiúil	Handsome; Good-looking, beautiful
  furasta	easy
  cóiriú	Arrangement, dressing.	m
  buartha	Sorry, sorrowful; vexed, perturbed
  spreag	Urge, incite; arouse, inspire; prompt, encourage
  eagrú	Arrangement, organization; Ornamentation.
  cóisir	(Wedding-)feast, banquet; Festive party; social gathering	f
  cúntóir	Helper, assistant	m
  Cailleadh
  fiach	debt	m

• Bhain Penelope téad agus péipéar de na hispini. ‘An bhean bhocht,’ ar sise, ‘is a rá go raibh uirthi a teach féin a thréigint agus dul ag sclábhaíocht in Ath na Lachan agus gurb é a bás a tháinig as.’
  D’fhéach Penelope thart uirthi, ar leaba an chait, ar an altóir beag os comhair an Chroí Rónaofa, ar dhá shlat na measúlachta de lása bán thar íochtar na fuinneoige.

  Penelope took the string and paper off the sausages.

  ‘The poor woman,’ she said, ‘it is said that she had to abandon her own home and go to slavery in Duckford and that her death was the result of that.’

  Penelope looked around her, at the cat’s bed, at the little altar in front of the Sacred Heart, at the two yards of modest white lace over the bottom of the window.

  téad	rope, string
  tréigint = tréigean	Desertion, abandonment	m
  sclábhaíocht	Slavery; Labor, toil; drudgery	f
  altóir	altar	f
  Rónaofa	Most Holy
  slat	Rod; Slender stick; cane, switch
  measúlacht	Respectability, esteem	f
  lása	lace	m

• Chuaigh sí i mbun friochadh na n-ispíní taobh thiar de scáileán ar a raibh blúire cadáis sínte thar chreatlach adhmaid agus dearadh ornáideach an ‘willow pattern’ clóite air. Fágadh Ó Duinnin sa chuid ghalánta den seomra agus é ag útamáil leis an téad. [d l 149]
  

  She set about frying the sausages behind a screen on which a piece of cotton was stretched over a wooden frame with the ornate design of the ‘willow pattern’ printed on it. Dineen was left in the elegant part of the room as he fiddled with the string.

  scáileán	screen
  blúire	fragment, bit	m
  cadás	cotton	m
  creatlach	Framework, skeleton	f
  dearadh	drawing, design
  ornáideach	Ornamental; ornate, embellished.
  clóigh	Tame, domesticate; print
  galánta	Gallant, fine; grand, beautiful; Elegant, refined; genteel, stylish; affectedly stylish; tony, posh
  útamáil	Act of) fumbling, groping, bungling; (act of) pottering	f

• ‘Cad d’imigh ar na cúntóirí a bhí ag Prunty?’
  ‘D’fhan Pete tamall gairid le muintir Harty ach níor thaitin búistéireacht leis. Chuala mé go raibh sé ina dhíoltóir taistil. Thóg Bella Prunty Margie isteach sa teach acu tamall, ina cailin aimsire, ach is dócha go raibh deireadh leis sin nuair a theip ar an airgead.”
  

  ‘What happened to Prunty’s assistants?’

  ‘Pete stayed a short time with the Hartys but he didn’t like butchering with him. I heard he was a traveling salesman. Bella Prunty took Margie into their house for a while, as a housemaid, but that probably ended when the money failed.

  gairid	short
  búistéireacht	butchering, butchery	f
  taistil	travel	v
  taisteal	travel	m gs npl taistil
  teip	fail

• Lean sí ag caint agus na hispíní ag giosáil ar an bhfriochtán. Thuig an Duinníneach ón scríobadh agus ón gclingeadh scine go raibh íomarca corraíola á dhéanamh orthu agus go loitfí iad.
  ‘Cheana féin, a Athair Padraig, tá Bill i dtrioblóid lena Cheannasaí mar go bhfuil sé ag iarraidh leanúint den gcuardach in Ath na Lachan agus a chomhghleacaithe cinnte de go bhfuil an dúnmharfóir i ngéibhinn acu… Agus ta sé ag brath ar phósadh. Cailin álainn, Nóirín, banaltra . .. tá’s agat, a Athair, go mbionn ar an gceannasaíocht a bheith sásta leis an gcailín sula mbionn cead pésta . . . agus an ceart acu, ar ndóigh, mar ní fhéadfá gligín mínáireach a chur isteach i mbeairic.
  

  She continued talking as the sausages sizzled in the frying pan. Dineen understood from the scraping and clanking of the knife that there was too much movement and they might be hurt.

  ‘Already, Father Patrick, Bill is in trouble with his Commander because he wants to continue the search in Duckford and his colleagues are sure that they have the murderer in custody… And he intends to marry. A beautiful girl, Nora, a nurse… You have it, Father, the leadership must be happy with the girl before permission to marry [is given… and theu are right, of course, as you cannot put a shameless rattle-brained person in the barracks.’

  giosáil	Fizz, fizzle; sizzle; ferment	v, f
  friochtán	frying-pan	m
  scríobadh	Scrape, scratch; scrapings	m
  cling	Clink; tinkle, ring	vn clingeadh
  scine	Scale, flake; thin piece	m
  scian	knife	f gs scine
  corraíl	Movement, stir; agitation, excitement	f gs corraíola
  loit	Hurt, wound; injure, damage
  trioblóid	Trouble, affliction	f
  ceannasaí	commander
  cuardach	search	m
  comhghleacaí	Equal, peer; fellow, companion	m comhghleacaithe
  dúnmharfóir	murderer	m
  géibheann	Bond, fetter; Bondage, captivity; strait, difficulty; distress, need	m gs npl géibhinn
  brath	Perception, feeling; Spying, betrayal; Expectation, intention	m
  ceannasaíocht	Leadership, command	f
  gligín	Little bell, tinkler, rattle(r); Tinkle; Rattle-brained person	m
  mínáireach	shameless

• Bhí an ceart aige. Seachas a bheith donn deas, bhí na hispíní pléasctha aici agus a bputóga amuigh agus rian dóite orthu áit ar ghreamaigh siad den bhfriochtan.
  Faoin am go raibh siad ite acu — an greim deireanach coinnithe go dílis d’Absalom, cat Phenelope — bhí geallúint tugtha ag an Duinníneach go rachadh sé go Baile na gCreabhar.

  He was right. Besides being a nice brown, she had burst the sausages with their guts out and a burnt mark on them on the place where they stuck to the frying-pan. By the time they had eaten them — the last bit properly kept for Absalom, Penelope’s cat — Dineen had given a promise to go to Baile na gCreabhar.

  seachas	Besides, other than, rather than; compared to
  pléasc	Explode; burst, shatter
  putóg	Gut, intestine; pudding	f
  rian	Course, path; Mark, trace, track	m
  dóite	Burned, burnt
  greamaigh	Attach, fix, fasten; make fast, secure; Become attached, adhere, stick
  friochtán	frying-pan	m
  ite	eaten
  greim	Grip, grasp, hold	m
  dílis	Own; proper
  gealladh	Promise, pre-indication
  gealltanas	Pledge, promise

• Cúpla lá ina dhiaidh seo, chuaigh an Duinníneach go dti an tInbhear Mor ar an traein agus fuair sé síob uaidh sin i mótar a dhéanadh an cúrsa go rialta go stáisiúin na bpóilini i mBaile na gCreabhar. Ar an traein dó, chuimhnigh sé ar an aon chuairt amháin a thug sé ar Prunty’s Haberdashery nuair a bhí beaifití ban mar abhar bóna uaidh. Niorbh fhéidir leis aon ní a [d l 150] thabhairt chun cuimhne ach an siosúr ag siabadh trín éadach bán agus snap téada idir mhéara oilte agus an pacáiste á chóiriú dó.
  

  A few days later, Dineen went to Invermore by train and got a lift from there in a motorcar which made the regular course to the police station. On the train to it, He remembered the one visit he had made to Prunty’s Haberdashery for white baft as the material for a collar. He could not recall anything but the scissors sawing through the white cloth and the snap of a string between skilled fingers as the package was being dressed for him.

  síob	drift; Ride, lift, hitch	fi>
  bóna	Collar; Lapel; Cuff	m
  siosúr	scissors	m
  siabadh
  snap	snap
  téad	rope, string	npl téada
  cóiriú	Arrangement, dressing.	m

• Tharla gur chuir an Duinníneach téad ceangailte na n-ispini ina phóca i dtigh Phenelope. Bhiodh a phócai riamh lán gliogairnéisi. Nuair a thóg sé amach a chiarsúr, tháinig an téad ina theannta. D’imir sé leis gan chuimhneamh ~ snaidhm na péiste, aris agus aris eile, a shúile ar an bhfarraige. Nuair a shroich an mótar — nach raibh de phaisinéirí ann ach Duinnin agus cúpla céad sicíní lae – Baile na gCreabhar, bhí Bill de Brún roimhe chun é a thionlacan chun na beairice. Níor thúisce suite chun boird iad i seomra lae na geonstáblaí ná gur tharraing Bill cás Fayley Toole chuige.
  

  It happened that in Penelope’s house Dineen had put the string tied to the sausages in his pocket. His pockets were always full of odds and ends. When he took out his handkerchief, the string came along with it. He played with it without thinking ~ the worm’s knot, again and again, his eyes on the sea. When the motorcar arrived at Baile na gCreabhar – the only passengers there were Dineeen and a few hundred day-old chickens, he was preceded by Bill de Brún to accompany him to the barracks. No sooner were they at the table in the living room of the constables than Bill brought up the Fayley Toole case.

  gliogairnéis	Rattletraps, odds and ends; trumpery	f
  ciarsúr	Kerchief, handkerchief	m
  teannta	Strait, difficulty, predicament; Prop, support; Foothold, grip	m
  i dteannta	along with, in addition to
  cuimhneamh	Remembrance; recollection, thought	m
  snaidhm	knot	f
  péist	(Fabulous) beast, reptile, monster; worm	f gs péiste
  sroich	Reach, attain
  tionlacan	Accompaniment, escort	m
  túisce	Sooner, rather; first

• ‘Ni chreidim gur dhein Fayley rud cruálach lena bheatha,’ arsa Bill. ‘Cara liom é. Bím ag seinm ceoil ina theannta.’ ”B’é go dteipfeadh an nóta ard ar dhúnmharfóir?’
  Bhí Bill róbhuartha le go dtabharfadh sé aird ar an nóta searbhasach i nglór an Duinninigh.
  

  ‘I don’t believe Fayley did anything cruel to his life,’ said Bill. ‘He is my friend. I play music along with him.’

  ‘Would a murderer fail a high note?’

  Bill was too worried to notice the sarcastic note in Dineen’s voice.

  cruálach	cruel; stingy
  buartha
  searbhasach	Bitter, acrimonious

• ‘Tá sé istigh i bpriosun Chill Mhantáin ag feitheamh go gcuirfear ar a thriail é. Níl sé ag cur i gcoinne na líomhaintí atá déanta ina choinne. Nuair a gabhadh é, d’admhaigh sé go raibh sé ag iarraidh Bella Prunty a ruaigeadh agus nach n-imeodh si. D’aithin sé an gléas lenar maraíodh í, uirlis dá chuid féin. D’admhaigh sé gur tháinig sé abhaile ar an lá cinniúnach thart ar leath i ndiaidh a cúig. Bhí na páistí tigh Dora Doyle an lá sin. Ní raibh éinne thart, deir sé. Pointe tabhachtach é sin, mar d’fhág Bella an siopa ag Sceichin an Rince ag a cúig agus ba chóir go sroichfeadh sí an teach laistigh de cheathrú uair an chloig nó mar sin, ach is buille faoi thuairim a bhíonn sna hamanna a luaitear mar nil aon dé chlog ar an mbaile ar an luas céanna. Deir Fayley nach bhfaca sé in aon chor i. Tá mangaire ann — an Mangaire Mantach a tugtar air — a dhéanann timpeall
  [d l 150]
  na dtithe sa cheantar, uair sa choicís, nó mar sin. Bhain seisean tigh Toole amach tamall roimh a sé. Bhí rud éigin ar ordú uaidh ag Bella. Labhair sé le Fayley a dúirt nach bhfaca sé Bella ó d’fhill sé. Chonaic an mangaire fuil ar urlár chró na mbó. Nuair a dhírigh sé aird Fayley air, dúirt Fayley gur dócha gur mharaigh Bella an coileach. a chró a maraiodh Bella. Feiceann tú an cás atá tógtha ag Fayley ina choinne féin, a Athair? … Ni raibh éinne thart ach é. D’fhill Bella ón siopa. Laistigh de leathuair an chloig, chonaic an mangaire a cuid fola ar an easair i gcró na mbó. Ansin — agus oiread dochair agus ab fhéidir déanta aige do féin ~ d’éirigh Fayley as a bheith ag caint. D’fhéadfainn é a chriogadh. Shamhláinn go raibh duine éigin á chosaint aige, ach nil duine ar bith eile ann a bhfuil amhras orainn ina thaobh.’
  

  ‘He is in Wicklow prison awaiting trial. He is not contesting the allegations made against him. When he was arrested, he admitted that he wanted to get rid of Bella Prunty and she wouldn’t go away. He recognized the device with which she was killed, a tool of his own. He admitted that he came home on the fateful day at about half past five. The children were at Dora Doyle’s house that day. No one was around, he says. That is an important point, for Bella left the shop at Skeheenaranky [“dancing bush”] at five and should be home in a quarter of an hour or so, but the times mentioned are somwhat of a guess as there are no two clocks in the town at the same time. There is a peddler — he is called the gap toothed peddler — that makes the rounds of the houses in the area, once a fortnight or so. He reached Toole’s house a little before six. Bella had ordered something from him. He spoke to Fayley who said he hadn’t seen Bella since he returned. The peddler saw blood on the floor of the cow pen. When he directed it to Fayley’s attention, Fayley said that Bella probably killed the rooster. Bella was killed in the pen. You see the case Fayley has built against himself, Father? … There was no one around but him. Bella returned from the shop. Within half an hour, the peddler saw her blood on the litter in the cow shed.
  Then — having done himself as much harm as possible ~ Fayley stopped talking. I could crack it[???]. I imagined he was protecting someone, but there is no one else we suspect.

  tr>

  feitheamh	Watch, look-out, guard; Wait, expectation	m
  líomhain	Allegation, imputation; Revilement	f
  cuir i gcoinne	to oppose
  admhaigh	Acknowledge; Admit
  ruaigeadh	Chase, expulsion	m
  gléas	Means, facilities; provision, accommodation; Instrument, appliance, apparatus, outfit	m
  cinniúnach	Fateful; Fatal, tragic.
  laistigh	On the inside, within, indoors
  buille	Blow, stroke; a little, somewhat	m
  tuairim	opinion	f
  luaigh	Mention, cite	vi>
  mangaire	Hawker, peddler; Small dealer, monger; Huckster, haggler	m
  cró	Eye, socket; bore; enclosure, fold, pen; shed	m
  dírigh	straighten, direct [attention]
  aird	direction, attention	f
  coileach	rooster	m
  Laistigh	On the inside, within, indoors
  easair	Bedding, litter	f
  dochar	Harm; hurt, injury; loss, distress	m gs dochar
  criog = cniog	Rap, tap; strike	v

• ‘Na comharsain?’ ‘Tá Jer Ó Cualáin agus a bhean róchríonna.’
  ‘Beaifití bán … ceaileacó Cullen …. téad … snap!’ arsa an Duinníneach faoina anáil agus é ag iarraidh breith ar shamhailt nó íomhá éigin a rinne tadhall lena chuimhne ach nár ghreamaigh ann. Chonaic sé cuntar adhmaid, tomhas práis ligthe isteach ann, a chuid beaifiti á shíneadh, siosúr ag screadáil tríd, ach ni raibh ar a chumas aghaidh a chur ar an té a bh{ á ghearradh nó féachaint siar thar lanna an tsiosúir.
  

  ‘The neighbors?’

  ‘Jer Ó Cualáin and his wife are too old.’

  ‘White baft … Cullen calico … string … snap!’ said Dineen under his breath as as he tried to grasp some idea or image that had touched his memory but had not stuck there. He saw a wooden counter, a measure of brass let into it, baft stretched, scissors screaming through, he was unable to put a face on the person who was cutting it or to look back over the blades of the scissors.

  críonna	wise, prudent
  samhail	Likeness, semblance, similitude	f
  íomhá	Image, statue	f
  tadhall	Touch, contact	m
  greamaigh	Attach, fix, fasten; make fast, secure, stick
  tomhas	Measure, gauge; dimensions; quantity	m
  prás	brass	m gs npl práis
  sín	stretch	v
  lann	Thin plate, lamina; panel	f
  cumas	Capability, power	m

• D’fhéach an Constábla de Brún ar an sagart beag maol a raibh deannach an bhóthair ar a éide agus a bhróga. Bhí speabhraoidí ar Aunt Penelope. Bheadh gá le míorúilt agus ni raibh aon chuma ar an Duinníneach go ndéanfadh sé míorúilt.
  ‘Thugas litir liom ón Ard-Chigire Smythe i gCaisleán Bhaile Atha Cliath. Thugas cúnamh dó uair amháin nuair a bhí gá aige le saineolas teangeolaíoch. Ina litir, molann sé dod shaoiste glacadh lem chomhairle ar chúrsaí teangeolaíochta.
  
  [d l 152]

  Constable de Brún looked at the little bald priest with road dust on his clothes and shoes. Aunt Penelope had hfantaises[?]. A miracle would be needed and Dineen did not look like to perform a miracle

  ‘I brought a letter from Chief Inspector Smythe in Dublin Castle. He was once assisted when he needed linguistic expertise. In his letter, he advises your boss to accept my advice on linguistic matters.’

  maol	bare, bald
  deannach	dust	m
  éide	Clothes, clothing; garment(s);Distinctive dress; vestment(s), livery, uniform	f
  speabhraíd	Hallucination; illusions, fantasies, ravings
  míorúilt	miracle
  cúnamh	help	m
  saineolas	Expert, special, knowledge	m
  teangeolaíoch	Linguistic
  saoiste	Seat of plaited straw or rushes; Roll; ong swelling wave, roller; Boss, ganger, gaffer	m

• ‘Ach, ni hé sin…’
  ‘Chuirfeadh sé ionadh ort,’ arsa an Duinníneach go cráifeach, ‘cé chomh huilíoch agus atá an bunús focleolaíoch, cé chomh deacair is atá sé an gníomh a scaradh óna thuairisc. Agus, pé scéal é, beidh leisce ar Green diúltú don té a bhfuil barántas ón Ard-Chigire aige. Abair leis go bhfuilim ag dul go hAth na Lachan anois chun an áit ar deineadh an dúnmharú ann a iniúchadh. Tabhair dom an tuairisc ar an scrúdú iarbháis. Léifidh mé é agus tá ag plé le Green.’
  

  ‘But, that’s not it.’

  ‘It would surprise you,’ said Dineen piously, ‘how universal is the philological foundation, how difficult it is to separate the action from its report. Anyhow, Green will be reluctant to refuse someone who has a warrant from the Chief Inspector.
  Tell him I’m going to Duckford now to scrutinize the place where the murder was committed. Give me the report on the post-mortem examination. I will read it while you are having a discussion with Green.

  ionadhWonder, surprise
  cráifeach	Religious; pious, devout
  uilíoch	uilíoch
  bunús	origin	m
  focleolaíoch	Philological
  gníomh	(Act of) doing, performing; working, exercising
  scaradh	Separation	m
  tuairisc	Information, tidings; account of whereabouts	f
  leisce	Laziness, sloth; Disinclination, reluctance; Shyness, embarrassment
  diúltu	Denial, refusal	m
  barántas	warrant	m
  iniúchadh	scrutiny	m
  iarbháis	Posthumous; post-mortem

• ‘Loisc an coinneal, loisc an t-orlach,’ arsa Bill faoina anáil, rialacha dochta á mbriseadh aige agus an tuairisc á tabhairt aige don Duinníneach.
  Réitigh Ó Duinnín é féin, go compordach, ag an mbord. Thóg sé dornán duilisc as a phóca agus léigh sé an tuairisc. Ó am go chéile léigh sé os ard mír éigin a shil sé a bheith tabhachtach.
  

  ‘Burn the candle, burn the inch,’ said Bill under his breath breaking strict rules when giving the report to Dineen.

  Dineen settled himself, comfortably, at the table. He took a handful of dulse [seaweed] from his pocket and read the report. From time to time he read aloud some bit which he thought to be important.

  loisc	Burn, fire, scorch, sear, sting
  coinneal	candle	f
  orlach	inch
  docht	Tight, close; stiff, rigid; strict, hard
  dornán	Fistful, handful; small quantity or number	m
  mír	bit, portion	f

• Bella Mary Margaret Prunty, widow, née Brown, age 50, housekeeper . . . maraiodh í le buille ar an uisinn chlé … fall … . contusions … speilín a aimsíodh leis an gcorpán i dtóin an tobair . .. rian fola air … Níor éigniodh í. Rug sí, ar a laghad, leanbh amháin.
  

  Bella Mary Margaret Prunty, widow, née Brown, age 50, housekeeper . . . she was killed by a blow on the left temple … fall … . contusions … scythe blade found with the corpse at the bottom of the well … bloodstains on it … She was not raped. She gave birth to at least one child.

  uisinn	temple [anat.]	f
  speal	scythe	f dim speilín m
  tobar	well	m
  éignigh	Force, compel; Violate, ravish; distress

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