Author Archives: gmcdavid

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About gmcdavid

Retired IT professional with a wide range of interests. Married. Three sons, two with autistic-spectrum disorders and the third being transgender with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. From Chicago but now living in the Twin Cities metro, Minnesota. Episcopalian. Carleton College (BA 1972, physics) and Stanford University (MS 1974, Applied Physics; MS 1976 Statistics).

Rang Gaeilge, 15ú lá Mí na mí Aibreáin 2020

Eachtraí Eilíse i dTír na nIontas

Caibidil VII: Cóisir Tae na nGealt [gpl]
Tea Party of the Crazy People
Cóisirfeast, banquet, party; attendant groupf
gealtCrazy person, lunaticf

  • Bhí bord arna leagan faoi chrann os comhair an tí agus bhí an Giorria Márta agus an Haitéir ina suí aige: bhí Luch Chodlamáin ina suí eatarthu agus í ina sámhchodladh, agus bhí an bheirt eile ag baint feidhm aisti mar chúisín, a [singular because of beirt?] n-uillinneacha ina luí uirthi, agus iad ag comhrá le chéile os a cionn. “An-mhíchompordach don Luch Chodlamáin,” a smaoinigh Eilís; “ach is ina codladh atá sí; is dócha mar sin nach miste léi.”

    A table was set under a tree in front of the house and the March Hare and the Hatter were sitting at it: A dormouse was sitting between them and it was peacefully sleeping, and the other two were making use of it as a cushion, their elbows lying on it and they were conversing together over its head, “Very uncomfortable for the dormouse,” thought Alice; “but it is sleeping, so it probably doesn’t mind.”

    arnaOn his, her, its, their, having been … with vn
    feidhmFunction; use, service; work, office, dutyf
    cúisíncushionm

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Rang Gaeilge, 13ú lá mí Eanáir 2020

Rang Gaeilge, 13ú lá mí Eanáir 2020

Eachtraí Eilíse i dTír na nIontas

Caibidil VI: Piobar agus Muc
Pepper and a Pig

  • D’fhan sí ag féachaint ar an teach go ceann cúpla [cúpla does not take genitive ] nóiméad agus í ag fiafraí di féin cad ba chóir di a dhéanamh. Go tobann rith giolla gléasta i libhré amach as an gcoill (cheap sí gur giolla a bhí ann toisc libhré a bheith air: mura measfaí [cond aut] é, áfach, ach ar a aghaidh amháin, déarfaí gur iasc a bhí ann [alternative to copula])—agus bhuail go tréan lena ailt ar an doras. Bonnaire eile i libhré a d’oscail é, aghaidh chruinn agus súile móra ar nós froig a bhí air siúd[?]; agus thug Eilís faoi deara go raibh peiriúicí catacha púdracha ar chloigeann na beirte. Bhí an-fhiosracht uirthi le fáil amach cad a bhí ar bun acu agus shleamhnaigh sí as an gcoill beagán le héisteacht leo.

    She looked at the house for a couple minutes and asked herself what she should do. Suddenly a well-dressed servant in livery ran out of the wood (she thought he was a servant because of the livery he had on: if it would not be judged, however, from his face, it would be said a fish was there)—and knocked with his knuckles on the door. Another footman in livery opened the it, he had a round face and big eyes like a frog; and Alice noticed that both had curly powdered periwig on their heads. Alice was very curious to find out was was going on with them and she slipped from the wood to listen to them.

    go ceannTo the top of; To the end of; For the duration of
    giollaYouth; page, boy; Attendant, gillie; man-servant, messenger; fellow
    gléastaglazed, glossy, shining; equipped; (well-)dressed
    libhréLivery
    measestimate, value, judge
    áfachhowever
    tréanStrong, powerful; intense, violent
    siúdThat, yon
    peiriúicperiwigf
    catachcurly
    púdrachpowdered
    ar bunestablished; going on
    sleamhnaighslide, slip
    beagánlittle bitbeagán usually followed by a noun, but not here

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Rang Gaeilge, 9ú lá Mí na Nollag 2019

Rang Gaeilge, 9ú lá Mí na Nollag 2019

Eachtraí Eilíse i dTír na nIontas

Caibidil V: Comhairle ón Speıg Neanta
Advice from the Hairy Caterpillar

  1. D’fhéach an Speig Neanta agus Eilís ar a chéile ar feadh tamaill gan focal as ceachtar acu: bhain an Speig Neanta an húca as a bhéal sa deireadh gur labhair léi go spadánta sámh.
    “Cé tusa?” a dúirt an Speig Neanta.

    The Hairy Caterpillar and Alice looked at each other for a while without a a word from either of them: The hairy Caterpillar took the hooka out of his mouth to speak to her Sluggishly and easily/peacefully.
    “Who are you?” said the hairy Caterpillar.

    ceachtarEither, one or other of two; (with neg.) neither
    spadántaSluggish, lethargic
    sámhPeaceful, tranquil; easy, restful; pleasant

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Patience: Sermon Notes

Notes from a sermon by the Rev. Jennifer Allred at St. Clement’s Episcopal Church, St. Paul, MN. Third Sunday of Advent, December 15, 2019. Any errors, mistakes, misinterpretations, etc. are my responsibility, not the Rev. Allred’s.

Largely about the need for patience, directly referring to the Epistle. It is the call of the Advent Season. “We want everything just about now.” The Rev. Phillips Brooks said “The trouble is that I’m in a hurry, but God isn’t.” The Rev. Allred also quoted from the “Romero Prayer,” which apparently was not actually composed by Archbishop Romero.

Monday night Irish Class, July 9, 2018

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Irish Class, July 9, 2018

Rang Gaeilge, 9ú lá Mí na Iúil 2017

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Fadas: áéíóúÁÉÍÓÚ

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Seanfhocal

You have a hiccup from a sandwich you did not eat.

Thig came var p of tar
Thig sé gan iarraidh mar a thig an do-aimsir. “He came/comes without asking, like
bad weather came/comes.”
Literally this is in the past tense, but can be used as present
Tá snag an cheapire nár ith tú ort. “your meddling has created a problem that really wasn’t there before you created it.”
sop in áit na scuaibe a wisp in place of a broom “a token effort”
idir chraiceann agus chnámha both skin and boes “warts and all.”
idir =”both” since both nouns are lenited

Na Déithe Luachmhara Deiridh

le Padraic Breathnach

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Monday night Irish Class, June 18, 2018

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Irish Class, June 18, 2018

Rang Gaeilge, 18ú lá Mí na Mheiteam 2018

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Fadas: áéíóúÁÉÍÓÚ

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Seanfhocal

Is minic a fuarthas comhairle ghlic ó amadán. Clever advice is often gotten from a fool.
Tá níos mó ná a phaidreacha aige. He knows more than is prayers. (He is not stupid)
Dhá dtreabhfadh sé an tír, chaithfeadh sé an ríocht. If he’d plow the whole country, he would spend the kingdom. (he’s a very hard worker, but he never gets ahead because he is a spendthrift.)

Súil le Breith

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Monday night Irish Class, June 4, 2018

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Irish Class, June 4, 2018

Rang Gaeilge, 4ú lá Mí na Mheiteam 2018

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Fadas: áéíóúÁÉÍÓÚ

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Seanfhocal

gráinne grain, single grain m
pónaire bean f
Tá fhios aige cé mhéad gráinne pónaire a dhéanann cuig He knows how many beans makes five. “He knows what is what”
Tabhartas Uí Néill agus a dhá shúil ina dhiaidh. O’Neil’s gift (or favor), and his two eyes after it. “Someone who gives you something and then draws attention to it, reminding you what a nice thing they did for you!”

Lá Bealtaine

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Monday night Irish Class, May 21, 2018

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Irish Class, May 21, 2018

Rang Gaeilge, 21ú lá mí na Bealtaine 2018

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Fadas: áéíóúÁÉÍÓÚ

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Seanfhocail

Is cuid den mhuc a drioball. the tail is part of the pig Chip off the old block, Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, etc.
domhain deep
éa- [negative prefix
Is é an t-uisce is éadoimhne is mó tormán. The shallowest water is the noisiest
ní thing, something [sometimes] hence copula construct: ní+is→níos

No contraction in past tense: ba mhó

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