GLOSSARY

IRISH WORDS

Abhartach – a cruel fifth-century chieftain from the north of Ireland who was supposedly a dwarf. In some versions of the tale, he was killed by Fionn mac Cumhaill but came back to life demanding bowls of blood. He was finally buried facedown with a yew stake through his heart, which put an end to his nightly wanderings.

Aengus Og / Óengus Og - One of the Túatha dé Danann, Irish god of love, youth and poetic inspiration. He was the foster father of Diarmuid Ua Duihne. 

Áer – cutting satire, thought to have the ability to or even kill 

Ailm – an ancient Celtic symbol representing strength and endurance 

Aisling - dream as in pleasant thoughts

Aiteann - gorse bush also known as a furze bush

Amárach – tomorrow

An gcloiseann tú mé, a dheartháir – Can you hear me, brother

Anseo anois–here now 

Aos sidhe – people of the mounds, fairy folk

A Athair– Father (the a is used when addressing the person directly)  

Fáinne na Eagna – The Ring of Wisdom

Fealtóir – betrayer

Féth Fíada – magical mist of the Túatha dé Danann

Filidh - professional class of poets who practiced divination. In   

Ciarán's priesthood, it is a seven year period immediately before full priesthood. The plural is Fili

Gaeltacht - an Irish speaking area or Irish language speaker

Garda - the Guard, the Irish police force

Geis – a taboo or vow, either a prohibition or an obligation 

A ghrá  – my love (as a term of endearment)

Go dtí go mbuailfimid arís, a dheartháir - Until we meet again, brother.

Go raibh maith agat - Thank you

Gobshite - a braggart, a mean or stupid and incompetent person (derogatory term)

Gombeen - shady character, someone always out to make a pount (derogatory term)

Hills of ár Sinsear — Hills of our Ancestors

In ainm an Athar, agus an Mhic, agus an Spiorad Naoimh – In

the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Is chuisle mo chroí thú — You are the beat of my heart

Is é mo chroí mise, anois agus i gcónaí, a ghrá — my heart is yours, now and always, my love

Lann na Leorghnimh — The Blade of Atonement 

A leanbh - child, baby, small child

Léine / Léinte – a tunic or shirt / tunics or shirts

Mamaí – Mommy

Mamó - Grandma

Manandán mac Lir – son of the sea god

Más é do thoil é – please

Máthair bandia – goddess mother

A Mháthair - Mother 

A mhic – my son

A mhuirnín – darling, my beloved (term of endearment)

Mo mhic dilis – my loyal son

Mumhan - ancient name for Munster

Oíche mhaith, a dheartháir. Codladh go maith – Good night, brother. Sleep well 

Ollamh - the highest rank of the Filidh or any group. In Ciarán's priesthood, it is the highest rank of cleric or major cleric

Ollamh Filidh – in Ciarán's priesthood, this is the highest rank of priest, the high priest

A paiste / a paisti - child / children

Sá ruithe geis – violator of a taboo or vow

Sabhaircín – primrose

Satire - a poetic curse that could vary in effect from mild insult to death

Saol gan bás – life without death

Scian na Lúin – The Knife of Lúin

A shagart - priest

A sheanathair - grandfather

A sheanchara - old friend

A shíorghrá – my eternal love (a term of endearment)

Slan - goodbye

Slan abhaile – safe home

Stop é sin anois – Stop that now

A stórín – little treasure

Straif - fourteenth letter of the Ogham alphabet, associated with the blackthorn, a tree known for its dark secrets

Suain Craite - tormented or tortured sleep

Ta mo chroí istigh ionat – my heart is within you / I love you

A tiarnán – my lord

Teamhair na Rí  – Tara of the Kings

Teach - house

Tir na Haislinge – The Land of Dreams

Tir na nÓg – Land of Youth, the otherworld

Tlachtga - ritualistic site where the Samhain fires were relit and

dispersed throughout the countryside

Tráthnóna maith – good afternoon

Troignid - feet (measurement)

Triubhas – trews or trousers

Tuaisceart, Conacht – the area of Connaught Ciarán comes

from

Tuamaí Dearmadta – Forgotten Tombs, or Tombs of the Forgotten

Túath - clan or tribe

Túatha dé Danann -  a supernatural race of beings said to live in Ireland before the coming of the human race. They are said to possess magical powers and were forever young

Túatha de Uí Briuin – another túath or clan near Ciarán’s 

Bean sidhe – woman of the mound, a harbinger of death

Túatha de Uí Fiachrach – Ciarán’s túath or clan

Ulaidh - Ulster

Veil of Cinniúna – Veil of Fate

Bean sidhe – woman of the mound, a harbinger of death

Bhí mó bródúil asat I gcónai, a mhic – I have always been proud of you, son

Brat - a cloak

Briseadh geis naofa – breaker of geas or prohibition

Brog / broga -- shoe / shoes

Buachaill - a boy 

Bean sidhe– woman of the mound, a harbinger of death 

Bhí mé bródúil asat i gcónai, a mhic – I was always proud of you, son 

Biscuits – cookies 

Black and whites – NYC police cars 

B

Briseadh geis naofa – breaker of geas or prohibition 

rat – a cloakBrog / broga – shoe / shoes 

Buachaill  – boy

Cá bhfuilimid? – Where are we?

Caer Ibormeith – swan princess of Aengus’s dreams. Irish mythological  woman, who was magically turned into a swan 

Cailín - lass, girl

Caomhnóir naofa - sacred guardian

Cave of Rúin Ársa - Cave of Ancient Secrets

A chara / a chairde – friend / friends

A chéadsearc – my dearest love (literally my first love)

Cialleach – in folklore, the divine hag or queen of winter. If the

day is cloudy on February 1, she oversleeps and can’t collect

enough firewood, so winter will end soon. If the sun is shining,

she collects plenty and it will be a longer winter. Sort of like the

groundhog.

A chuisle — darling, dear (technically pulse)

A chuisle mo chroí – pulse of my heart/beat of my heart

Claíomh Ailbe – Sword of Ailbe

Codail go sámh — Sleep tight

Codladh na tromluí síoraí  - sleep o eternal nightmares 

Conmaicne Mara - Connemara, a region in the west of Ireland

Connachta - Connacht, the region in County Mayo where Ciarán is from

Cormac mac Airt - legendary and likely historical High King of Ireland, living sometime between between the second and fourth century

Culchie - a person from the country

Cuirm - ancient Celtic name for ale

Cup of Cheartais — Cup of Justice

Cá bhfuilimid? – Where are we? 

Caer Ibormeith – Irish mythological woman who was magically turned into a swan.  Swan princess and lover of Óengus, one of the Túatha dé Danann and god of youth and love.  

Cailín– lass, girl 

Caomhnóir naofa – sacred guardian

Cave of Rúin Ársa — Cave of Ancient Secrets

Chancer – someone with a dubious manner who seems to be dishonest or opportunistic  

A chara /chaired  – my friend, my friends 

A chéadsearc – my dearest love (literally my first love – an endearment) 

A chuisle — darling, dear (technically pulse – an endearment) 

A chuisle mo chroí – pulse of my heart/beat of my heart (An endearment)

Cialleach– in folklore, the divine hag or queen of winter. If the day is cloudy on February 1, she oversleeps and can’t collect enough firewood, so winter will end soon. If the sun is shining, she collects plenty and it will be a longer winter. Sort of like the groundhog 

Claíomh of Ailbe – Sword of Ailbe 

Codail go sámh— Sleep tight 

Codladh na tromluí – sleep of eternal nightmares

Conmaicne Mara – Connemara, a region in the west of Ireland 

Conmachta – the province of Connacht

Cormac mac Airt – A legendary and likely historical high king of Ireland, living sometime between the second and fourth century 

Cryonics – practice of freezing bodies with the hopes of being able to revive them at a later date 

Cuirm – ancient Irish name for ale 

Cup of Cheartais — Cup of Justice 

Cuppa – a cup of tea 

Dadaí – Daddy

Daideo – Granda

A deirfiur - sister

Dercad –  deep form of meditation

A dheartháir – brother (as in sibling)

Mo dheartháireacha beag - my little brothers

Dia duit - Hello (Technically, God to you)

Dia is Muire duit - Hell to you, too (Technically, God and Mary to you)

DI–Detective Inspector 

Dadaí – Daddy (what twins call their father)

Daideo– Granddad (While the twins call Father Mike and Daniel this at first, they later change to calling them Granddad

Dark Shadows – a TV show that ran in the US from 1966 to 1971. It featured Barnabus Collins, a nearly 200-year-old vampire who was racked by guilt. 

Daub – clay mixed with reeds or straw 

Dearg Due – a beautiful young woman who, according to folklore, was forced to marry a wicked rich man instead of her love. After her death, she returned each year on the anniversary of her death to lure young men into her embrace and suck them dry, blood wise. To keep her from returning, stones were placed upon her grave, which supposedly is somewhere in Waterford. 

A dheirfiúr – sister (the a is used when addressing the person directly)

Dercad– a deep form of meditation 

A dheartháir–brother (as in a sibling—the a is used when addressing the person directly)

Mo dheartháireacha beag – my little brothers

Dia duit – hello (technically, God to you) 

Dia is Muire duit – Hello to you too (technically, God and Mary to you) 

Diarmuid Ua Duibhne–foster son of Aengus Óg and loyal warrior of the Fianna, who ran off with Gráinne, the intended of Fionn mac Comhaill, leader of the Fianna Dercad – a deep form of meditation 

Dun do bheal – shut your mouth 

Elixir of Suain Cráite – Elixir of Tormented Sleep

Ériu  – ancient name for Ireland

Elixir of Suain Cráite – Elixir of Tormented Sleep 

Ériu – ancient name for Ireland 

LATIN WORDS

Christe Eleison – Christ have mercy

Dominus vobiscum – The Lord be with you

Et cum spiritu tuo – And with your spirit

Kyrie Eleison – Lord have mercy

Paenitet me, dominus. Ego non intellego – I’m sorry, master. I

do not understand.

Per istam sanctam Unctiónem  - Through this holy anointing

Salvete frater . . . sit habitas in Christo – Hail brother . . . may

you live in Christ

MISC. TWENTIETH-CENTURY TERMS

Biscuits – cookies 

Black and whites = NYC police cars

Chancer - a scheming opportunist, someone who is dishonest or tries to deceive others

Golden Year – Every nineteen years. The guardianship

ceremonies were held during this year.

LIE – Long Island Expressway

The messages - the groceries

Midge - a small, annoying, gnat-like insect

Rashers - Irish bacon

Runners - sneakers