Good afternnon all,

I am hoping to learn what the difference (if any) in these two phrases below are. These are translations that were graciously provided by Gumbi & Breandán on IGTF. Any assistance is much appreciated. Thank you and have a great day.


"Toisc gurb é Dia amháin gur féidir leis m'anam a mheá"

and

"Mar gurb é Dia amháin atá in ann m'anam a mheá"

Mathew

I think it is mostly a dialect preference.

Though both are grammatically correct in standard Irish (I think), Toisc gurb é Dia amháin gur féidir leis m'anam a mheá is what someone from Munster (as is Gumbi) would be more likely to say, and Mar gurb é Dia amháin atá in ann m'anam a mheá is closer to what someone from Connacht might say.

Both are still unconfirmed, if I recall. There may be better suggestions yet to come from others.

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Múinteoir Gaeilge - Irish Teacher
My "specialty" is Connemara Irish, particularly Cois Fhairrge dialect, but I can also speak Ulster and Munster Irish with native-level pronunciation.
Is fearr Gaeilge ḃriste ná Béarla cliste, cinnte, aċ i ḃfad níos fearr aríst í Gaeilge ḃinn ḃeo na nGaeltaċtaí.
Gaeilge Chonnacht (GC), go háraid Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge (GCF), Gaeilic Uladh (GU), Gaelainn na Mumhan (GM), agus Gaeilge an Chaighdeáin Oifigiúil (CO).

Thank you Breandán,

It is very interesting to learn that there are multiple dialects in Ireland. If I may ask, how many different dialects are there in Irenland? Is there one that is specific to the Ulster region? (as this is where I have learned some of my family heritage comes from).

Mathew

There is indeed an Ulster dialect group, most of the native Gaeltacht (predominantly Irish speaking area) speakers being concentrated in Donegal, although there is also a revival of Irish learning occurring in the six counties occupied by the British.

The other dialect groups are Connacht and Munster. There is also a standard Irish that is taught in schools throughout Ireland.

We do have some Ulster Irish specialists here. Perhaps they would like to give your translation an Ulster flavour.

I'll just change the title of the thread to get their attention.

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Múinteoir Gaeilge - Irish Teacher
My "specialty" is Connemara Irish, particularly Cois Fhairrge dialect, but I can also speak Ulster and Munster Irish with native-level pronunciation.
Is fearr Gaeilge ḃriste ná Béarla cliste, cinnte, aċ i ḃfad níos fearr aríst í Gaeilge ḃinn ḃeo na nGaeltaċtaí.
Gaeilge Chonnacht (GC), go háraid Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge (GCF), Gaeilic Uladh (GU), Gaelainn na Mumhan (GM), agus Gaeilge an Chaighdeáin Oifigiúil (CO).

Ulster: Nó cha dtig ach le Dia m'anam a mheá

Using "gur" as a relative is Munster Irish, not standard (not Ulster of course), as far as I know.

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Is fearr Gaeilg na Gaeltaċta ná Gaeilg ar biṫ eile
Agus is í Gaeilg Ġaoṫ Doḃair is binne

Many thanks again to both Breandán & Lughaidh,

This clears up many of the questions I had and I think it puts me where I need to be for the tattoo I am wanting to get. Additionally, it also lets me know where I will want to start when it comes to learning to speak the language (starting with the Ulster dialect) where my great grandfather came from. I once again cannot thank you all again for all of your assistance, and will be back from time to time to seek assistance if you dont mind when it come to seeking advice in translations as well as tips/books/tools I can use to help me along the way.

Mathew

We still recommend getting confirmation from two other translators, if possible, before using a translation permanently.

Though Lughaidh is very thorough, even he makes mistakes. There are a couple of other Ulster Irish speakers here who may be able to confirm it. It depends on how they are disposed toward tattoos in general.

I'd recommend waiting a little longer to see if you can't get three to agree.

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Múinteoir Gaeilge - Irish Teacher
My "specialty" is Connemara Irish, particularly Cois Fhairrge dialect, but I can also speak Ulster and Munster Irish with native-level pronunciation.
Is fearr Gaeilge ḃriste ná Béarla cliste, cinnte, aċ i ḃfad níos fearr aríst í Gaeilge ḃinn ḃeo na nGaeltaċtaí.
Gaeilge Chonnacht (GC), go háraid Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge (GCF), Gaeilic Uladh (GU), Gaelainn na Mumhan (GM), agus Gaeilge an Chaighdeáin Oifigiúil (CO).

Thank you Breandán,

Some very sound advice, I shall await further confirmation. Again, thank you for al of your assistance.

Mathew

I understand Lughaidh's version, but I'm not an Ulster dialect expert, so I'll let them do the confirming. In the meantime, if you do decide to study Irish, there is a school in Donegal with summer classes for adults, and many Americans have studied there. Here is the URL for their web site:
http://www.oideas-gael.com

Like most schools in Ireland, they teach the standard language for the most part, and not all of the teachers are from Ulster, but the teachers (especially the director, Liam, who is a native Ulster Irish speaker) will gladly discuss Ulster dialect features.

The Gaelic League also has adult summer classes, and theirs are held in northwest Donegal, in an entirely Irish-speaking area. Here is the URL for their web site:
http://www.gael-linn.ie

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I'm not a native (or entirely fluent) speaker, so be sure to wait for confirmations/corrections, especially for tattoos.

Thank you CaoimhínSF,

As I am looking at retirement in the next 4 years and will have a lot of time on my hands, I have been trying to think of what I might do. This information on the language classes might just give me that extra excuse to take the trip I have always wanted to make to Ireland. There is still much about my family history/heritage that I have to discover and want to make sure that I can learn as much as possible to pass along to my own children.

In the meantime, I shall await further confirmations of the translation requested above and again thank all of you for your assistance and guidance.

Mathew