Irish Proverbs

The Milesian Irish believe that their ancient Kings, Brehons, and Fileas were men of great intelligence and wisdom, — that the sayings of Ollamh-fodhla, Fithil the wise, Moran, and Cormac Mac Art, were so many lessons of human wisdom, — that the venerable dicta of Finghin, Kicran, Columbkille, &c. were so many maxims of sacred truth, and their actions so many examples of virtue; and the wit of Goban Saér, the celebrated Deadalus of Ireland, is yet remembered and told with vivacity.

Amongst a people who entertain so high an opinion of the talent of their predecessors, it should be expected that some trace of this wisdom would still remain, and that a few at least of these proverbial sayings should be discovered; but whoever makes the enquiry, through the medium of books, will find that, amongst all the nations of the world, the proverbs of the Irish are the most vulgar, awkward, incoherent, and ridiculous, indicating a lowness of sentiment, and a total lack of mental refinement.

Proverbs owe their origin to the sayings of wise men, allusions of ancient poets, the customs and manners of nations, they are adapted to common use as ornaments of speech, set rules of instruction, arguments of wisdom, to which time has given assent, and maxims of undeniable truth. The peculiar veneration which the Irish have for their ancient proverbs, has given rise to a well known assertion: Ni feider an sean-fhocal do sharúghadh. It is impossible to contradict the old word (proverb.)
From this it will, I think, be granted, that a perfect list of the proverbs of any people is, as it were, an index to the national character, or the elements of the moral notions, customs, and manners of a people.

In Ray's splendid collection of English, Scotch, Italian, Spanish, Danish, and Oriental Proverbs, the following list of Irish ones are given, which shows how Ireland has been made known to the world, by the circulation of that learned and excellent work, as a nation of blunderers and blockheads!! And no Irishman has ever since come forward to defend the wisdom of Ollav Fodhla, by translating and publishing a list of genuine Irish proverbs!! Shame Ireland!

Ray says, "The following proverbs are presumed to be Irish:"

1.	"She is like a Mullingar heifer, beef to the heels.
2.	"He is like a Waterford merchant, up to the -------- in business.
3.	"His eyes are like two burnt holes in a blanket.
4.	"Full of fun and foustre, like Mooney's goose.
5.	"He looks as angry as if he were vexed.
6.	"'Tis as bad as cheating the devil in the dark, and two farthing candles for a halfpenny.
7.	"He'd skin a louse, and send the hide and fat to market."

These are, without doubt, modern English-IRISH proverbs of the lowest order, and rudest nature, but they have no more to do with the wise sayings of the ancient Milesian Irish, than with the proverbs of Solomon, or the wise savings of the Brahmins; the following list of genuine Irish proverbs, translated principally from Hardiman's Irish Minstrelsy, will satisfy the philosophic enquirer of national character, on this head:

1.	An t-scod dofhaghála's i is áilne. The rare jewel is the most beautiful.
2.	Air li ni breith fear gan suilibh. A blind man is no judge of colours.
3.	Annair a bhidheann an cat a muigh bidheann na lacha a g rainnceadh. When the cat is out, the mice dance.
4.	Annair is cruadh dón chailligh caithfidh si rith. When the old hag is in danger she must run.
5.	Bidh ádh air Amadán. Even a fool has luck.
6.	Beul eidhin a's croidhe cuilinn. A mouth of ivy, a heart of holly. [The leaves of ivy are soft and smooth, those of holly rough and prickly — a metaphorical proverb.]
7.	Beatha an Staraidhe firinne. The historian's food is truth.
8.	Bidh borb fo sgeimh. Fierceness is often hidden under beauty.
9.	Bidh boirbeacht i n-geal ghaire. There is often anger in a laugh.
10.	Bidh cluanaidhe a n-deagh-chulaidh. A good dress often hides a deceiver.
11.	Buaine clá na saoghal. Fame is more lasting than life.
12.	Briathar baoth baothantacht. A foolish word is folly.
13.	Bocht an Eaglais bhios gan cheol. The church that has no music is poor indeed.
14.	Cnuasaigh an am oireamhmach. Lay up in time.
15.	Caoin re ccannsa. Mild to the meek.
16.	Briseann an duthchas tre shíalibh an chait. Cat after kind. "Da mheid Eolais, radhare is foghlaim "Do gheibheann an cóbach, mac an Daoi "Briseann an duthchas tres an m-bruid "Tar eis gach cúrsa do chur a g-crích. Whatever knowledge, education, or learning. The clown, son of the low-bred man, acquires. His own congenial nature still appears, After passing through every course.
17.	Claoidheann neart ceart. Force overcomes justice.
18.	Caomhnann dochas ant-ingreamach. Hope consoles the persecuted.
19.	Ni thuigeann an Sáthach an seang. The satiated forget the hungry.
20.	Codlda fada spaideann leanbh. Long sleep renders a child inert.
21.	Deineacht gan luas. Hurry without haste.
22.	Dearbhralhair leadranachta olachán. Drunkenness is the brother of robbery.
23.	Dóchas liagh gach anró. Hope is the physician of each misery.
24.	Duilghe an t-uaibhreach do cheannsughadh. It is difficult to tame the proud.
25.	Diomhaoineas mian amadain. Idleness is the desire of a fool.
26.	Dearc sul leimir. Look before you leap.
27.	Dearbh caraid roimh riachtanas. Prove a friend before necessity (poverty.)
28.	Eadtrom ór ag Amadan. Gold is light with a fool.
29.	Feárr deire fleidhe 'ná tus bruighne. The end of a feast is better than the beginning of a quarrel.
30.	Feárr dreoilin i n-dorn 'ná corr air cairde. A wren in the hand is better than a crane out of it.
31.	An te Chidheann amiúgh fuaruigheann a chuid. He who is out, his supper cools.
32.	Fada cuimhne sein-leinbh. The memory of an old child is long.
33.	Foillsighthear gach nidh re haimsir. Every thing is revealed by time.
34.	Féadann Cat dearcadh for righ. A cat can look at a king.
35.	Foighid leigheas sean-ghalair. Patience is the cure of an inveterate disease.
36.	Foghlaim mian gach Eagnaidhe. Learning is the desire of the wise.
37.	Fearŕ clú 'ná conach. Character is better than wealth.
38.	Gan oileamhain, gan mhodh. Without education, without manners, i.e. he who is without education, is also &c.
39.	Gan lon, gan charaid. Without treasure, without friends.
40.	Gan chiste is fuar an chlu. Without treasure, character is cold.
41.	Gach nidh ghabhthar go holc imthigheam go holc. Whatever is ill acquired, passes away ill; or whatever is got on the devil's back, falls under his belly.
42.	Gnidheann bladar caradas. Flattery procures friendship.
43.	Gnath ocrach fiochmhar. A hungry man is angry, (peevish.)
44.	Gach am ni h-eagnach savi. No man is wise at all times.
45.	Gach ni daor mian gach mná. Every dear article is woman's desire.
46.	Is treise gliocas 'ná neart. Wisdom exceeds strength.
47.	Is milis fion, is scarbh a ioc. Wine is sweet; to pay for it bitter.
48.	Iomhaigh am bháis codhla. Sleep is the image of death.
49.	Is sodh daochain. Enough is a feast.
50.	Is Dall an gradh baoth. Foolish love is blind.
51.	Is fearr an mhaith a ta 'na an mhaith a bhi. Present good is better than past good.
52.	Is eagnach deaghdhuine. A good man is a wise man.
53.	Loiteann aoradh mor-chlá. Satire wounds a great character.
54.	Lnidheann proimpeallan for otrach. A BETTLE buries himself in DUNG.
55.	Luidheann cruadhtan for dhiomhaoineas. Hardship attends idleness.
56.	Liagh gach boicht bas. Death is the physician of the poor.
57.	Mairg dárb ceilc baothan borb. Woe to her whose husband is a surly fool.
58.	Mairg fheallas air a charaid. Woe to him who betrays his friend.
59.	Mairg a threigeas a thighearna. Woe to him who abandons his lord.
60.	Má's maith leat a bheith buan caith fuar agus TEITH. If you wish to be long-lived eat cold and hot; or if you wish to be long-lived eat cold and flee. (fuge.) The ambiguity lies in the last word, which signifies either the adjective hot, or the imperative form of the verb to fly. [This is not properly speaking a proverb; but we must admit it affords a striking instance of the happy inventive powers, comprehension, and shrewdness, of the lower classes of the Irish: perhaps few instances could be adduced more happy in conception, or successful in application than this sentence, as will appear from the circumstance from which it is said to have originated. It was given as a friendly advice, a long time since, to a celebrated Irish freebooter in the town of Naas. The freebooter it appears called at an inn and ordered a hot dinner to be prepared for him, but the innkeeper recognized the freebooter, and, as a good member of the community, he deemed it his duty to send for the authorities in order to have him secured; fortunately for the freebooter, it happened that the waiter, who was preparing the dinner, had been heretofore his intimate friend and companion in many a desperate and perilous enterprize of misguided valour, but as the master was present, the waiter was afraid to inform the freebooter in plain terms that his enemies were at hand; he therefore gave him the hint as conveyed in the above ambiguous sentence, which the freebooter (being a man of the quickest apprehension) immediately comprehending, mounted his horse, which had on many previous occasions borne him in safety from his pursuers, and flying with the swiftness of the Arabian steed escaped, for that time, the strong arm of justice.]
61.	Ni fhuil gaol ag aon re saoi gan seun. No one is related to a man without prosperity.
62.	Ni car gach bladaire. Every flatterer is not a friend.
63.	Ni uaisleacht gan subhailce. There is no nobility without virtue.
64.	Ni fhuil ro aosta re foghuim crionachta. Never too old to learn wisdom.
65.	Ni fhuil saoi gan locht. There is no one without fault. Nemo sine crimine visit.
66.	Or iodhal na santach. Gold is the idol of the covetous.
67.	Olc síon nach maith d'aon. That weather is bad which is not good for some person.
68.	Otracht sodh an Liaigh. Sickness is the physician's feast.
69.	Righ miofhoghlamtha is asal corónta. An ignorant king is a crowned ass.
70.	Saruigheann Eagna gach saidhbhreas. Wisdom exceeds riches.
71.	Soightheach folamh is mo torann. An empty vessel makes most noise. [Applied to a talkative man.]
72.	Saidhbhreas sior subhailce. Virtue is eternal wealth.
73.	Sgeitheann fion firinne. In vino veritas. Wine pours out the truth. [Applied to a drunken man who foolishly blabs out his secrets.]
74.	Tig grian a n-diaidh na fearthana. Sunshine follows rain; i.e. joy succeeds affliction.
75.	Tig iomchar re foghlaim From education comes conduct.
76.	Tos mhaith leath na h-oibre. A good beginning is half the work.
77.	Tosach coille a's deirc móna. The beginning of a wood; the end of a bog.
78.	Umhlacht d' uaisleacht. Obedience to nobility.
79.	Fion a n-diu, uisge amarach. Wine to-day, water to-morrow.
80.	Buail an ceann a's seachain an muineul. Strike the head, but touch not the neck; i.e. there are two ways for killing a man.
OF WEATHER.
81.	Dearg aniar is ionann a's Grian. Red in the west portends sunshine; i.e. when, after the setting of the sun, the west appears red, it portends that the next day will be fine.
82.	Dearg anoir is ianann a's sioc. Red in the east is a sign of frost.
83.	Bogha fliuch na maidne, bogha tirm na trathnona. Rainbow in the morning is a sign of rain; in the evening, of dry weather.*
84.	"Mathair eatha oigh. "A thair sailla sneachta. "Tuarfola fleacha. "Tuar teadma tart. "Deach do sionuibh ceb' "Acht do mhuir ni torthach torann."                               Cormac Mac Art. Frost favours the growth of corn; (i.e. it prepares the earth for its production.) Snow favours the growth of trees.† Much rain is an omen of blood. Drought is an omen of plague. Fog is good for the seasons. Thunder destroys the fertility of the sea.                             JOHN O'DONOVAN.

* A rainbow can only occur when the clouds, containing or depositing the rain, are opposite to the sun, and in the evening the rainbow in the east, and in the morning in the west; and as our heavy [--?--] this climate, are usually brought by the westerly wind, a rainbow in the west indicates that the bad weather is on the road, by [--?--] us; whereas the rainbow in the east, proves that rain in thes[--?--] passing from us. -- Salmonia.
† La nieve per otto di é madre allaterra da indi in la é matrig[--?--] Snow for a se'ennight is a mother to the earth, for ever after a step-mother.


Source: The Dublin Penny Journal, Vol. 1, No. 20 (Nov. 10, 1832), pp. 158-159

Rustic Proverbs Current in Ulster (1854)

The Philosophy of Proverbs is a wide and interesting subject, but it is one with which I do not intend to trouble you at present. My object is to illustrate three curious points in a single Essay, though there are many others collateral which are also of great interest.

1. A proverb or proverbial phrase shows a certain poverty of language in the individual; he accordingly uses a particular expression with a general application which his hearers perfectly understand. He cannot tell you that "perseverance overcomes the most formidable obstacles," but he says "a constant dthrap wares a hole in a stone." His vocabulary hardly furnishes him with terms to say "attach the blame to the culpable individual," he therefore says "put the saddle on the right horse." When desirous to express -- "the circumstance does not affect your interests," -- he says -- "it takes no butther aff your bread."

2. While each expression is thus a condensation of philosophy, or epitome of experience, the mode of expression seems to show the birth-place of the speaker. Few forms of expression show the peculiarities of dialect in bolder relief than those which are so currently used; and your readers will easily verify, from their recollection or daily intercourse, every expression used here. The Ulsterman is an Irishman, of course; but the dialect of Ulster is not that of Ireland. The latter is more limited in its characteristics, and a little varied; the former has a large amount of specific difference.

3. Side by side with these, I place the same proverbial expressions as used in England or Scotland, or occasionally in both; so as to exhibit a sort of 'comparative anatomy' of the subject. One occasionally sees a Latin, an Italian, or a Spanish proverb, quoted in illustration of an English one; and the accurate observer must admit that neither dress nor manner affords a more interesting or curious illustration of the peculiarities of any people.

It would be easy to classify proverbs, and to show those, for instance, that are of Hibernic, or even of Ulster, origin; at present the selection is made mainly with reference to such as exist on the other side of the channel. Even of these, but a few are taken by way of specimen; it is, as an eminent geologist would say, "a new walk in an old field."

1. "Purty people an' ragget people's often gettin plucks." -- Ulster. "A fair woman and a slash'd gown find always some nail in the way." -- Eng.

2. "A soople mother makes a lazy chile." -- Ulster. "An olcit [nimble] mother maks a sweir [reluctant] dochter." -- Old Scotch. "A licht heeled mither maks a leaden heel'd dochter." -- Mod. Scotch. "a heavy heel'd daughter." -- Eng.

3. "Hunger begins at the cows' stakes." -- Ulster. "A famine begins at the horse's manger." -- Eng. "After a famine in the stall, comes a famine in the hall." -- Somerset version.

4. "Them 'at hides can fine." -- Ulster. "They that feal [hide] can find." -- Eng.

5. "Ye sit yer time like many a good goose." -- Ulster. (This is spoken in derision of a person who sits long in a house which he visits.) "Ye hae sitten yer time, as mony gude hen's done." -- Scot.

5. "Inches disn't break squares in a load o' whins." -- Ulster. (In matters of a trifling character, minute discrepancies are of no consequence whatever.) "An inch breaks no squares in a burn [burden] of thorns." -- Eng.

6. "Niver put out yer han' fardther nor ye can draw it back again." -- Ulster. (Never make an an attempt from which you may not retreat creditably.) "Ne'er put your han' far'er out than your sleeve will reach." -- Scot.

7. "Butther to butther's no kitchen." -- Ulster. ("Kitchen" is condiment, or that which is used to modify and season the more substantial articles of food. The proverb is applied when two men dance together, when two women kiss, &c.)

8. "Nivver powr watther on a drownded mouse." -- Ulster. (Do not injure those who are already oppressed.) "Pour not water on a drowned mouse." -- Eng.

9. "Them 'at gets the name o' risin' early may lie all day." -- Ulster. (In any quality for which a man is celebrated an occasional deficiency will not affect his reputation.) "If one's name be up he may lie in bed." -- Eng.

10 "Let ivvery her'n' hing by its own tail." -- Ulster. (Let every man depend upon himself. In the cottages, dried herrings are suspended by a rod passed through their tails.) "Every herring must hang by its own gill." -- Eng. "Let ilka herrin hing by its ain head." -- Scot.

11. "Jist as day broke butther broke." -- Ulster. (This is applied when events coincide in time. Butter is said to "break" when it first shows itself in the process of churning.) "As day brake bitter brake." -- Scot.

12. "A slice aff a cut loaf's niwer miss'd." -- Ulster. "A whang aff a new cut kebbuck [cheese] is ne'er miss'd." -- Scot. "'Tis safe taking a shive of a cut loaf." -- Eng.

Demetrius. --What man! more water glideth by the mill
Than wots the miller of; and easy it is
Of a cut loaf to steal a shive we know.
                            SHAKSP. -- Tit. Andron.

13. "We have dogs' days, hunger an' aise, through the whole of the blue month." -- Ulster. (The "blue month" is the period which elapses between the scarcity of the old potatoes and the ripeness of the new; usually the month of July.) "A dog's life, hunger and ease." -- Scot.

14. "I may as well be hang'd for an oul' sheep as a young lamb." -- Ulster. (Since I am to be punish'd, the fault may as well be a great as a small one.) "As weel be hang'd for a wether as a lamb." -- Scot. In the south of England it is quoted as in Ulster.

15. "The shoemaker's wife an' the smith's mare af'en goes barefooted." -- Ulster. "The souter's wife is warst shod." -- Scot. "Who goes worse shod than the shoemaker's wife and the smith's mare?" -- Eng.

16. "It's a long loanin' [field lane or "boreen"] that has no turn." -- Ulster. "Its a long run that never turns." -- Eng.

17. "Han'some is that han'some dis." -- Ulster. "He is handsome that handsome doth." -- Eng.

18. "Betther is the end of a faste nor the beginnin' of a quarle." -- Ulster. "Better come at the latter end of a feast than the beginning of a fray." -- Eng. -- Scot.

19. "Whin rogues disagrees, honest men gits their own." -- Ulster. "When thieves cast out, honest folk come to their ain." -- Scot. "When thieves reckons, leall men comes to their geir." -- Old Scotch. "When thieves fall out, true men come by their goods." -- Eng.

20. "Ye look for the ladle when the pot's in the fire." -- Ulster. (You take precautions when the catastrophe has occurred.) "Ye rin for the spurtle [potstick] when the pat's rinnin' ower." -- Scot.

21. "Kissin' goes by favour." -- Ulster. (The modern meaning is, influence is more availing than merit. There is, however, a pun in the proverb; "favour" meaning the countenance or features. Thus, "ill-favoured" means ill-looking, to "favour" one's uncle is to resemble him, and several examples of this use of the term occur in Shakspeare. -- Prov. xxxi. 30, "Favour is deceitful and beauty is vain.")

22. "Don't kick till ye'r spurr'd." -- Ulster. "If you be not ga'd (gall'd) ye need na fling." -- Scot.

Let the gall'd jade wince, our withers are unwrung.
                                               SHAKSP. -- Hamlet.

23. "You have a good many nicks in your horn." -- Ulster. (The age of an ox is shown by the rings at the base of the horn; and the expression is jocularly applied to persons.) "We ken your eild by the runkles o' your horn." -- Scot.

24. "There' never a gant [yawn] but there's a want, of mate, money, or sleep." -- Ulster. "Ganting bodes wanting ane o' things three, sleep, meat, or gude companie." -- Scot.

25. "Hit a dog with a bone, an' he'll not gowl." -- Ulster. (In doing an unkindness, confer some benefit, and you prevent growling.) "Fell a dog wi' a bane, an' he'll no yowl." -- Scot.

26. "Look a thing till ye fine it, an' then ye'll not loss yer labour." -- Ulster. "Seek till you find, and you'll not lose your labour." -- Eng.

27. "You can kill the two birds with one stone." -- Ulster. "Kill two birds with one shaft." -- Eng. "Kill twa flies wi' ain flap." -- Scot.

28. "Them 'at likes the dunghill sees no motes in it." -- Ulster. "They who lo'e the midden see nae mots in't." -- Scot.

29. "Every day braw makes Sunday a daw." (If the best clothes be worn during the week, a less respectable appearance is made on Sunday.) "Alike ilka day makes a clout on Sunday." -- Scot.

30. "Let the tail go with the hide." -- Ulster. "Let the horns gang wi the hide." -- Scot.

31. "Great cry an' little wul, as the Deil said when he pluckt the pig." -- Ulster. "Muckle din and little woo,' quo the Deil when he clippit the sow." -- Scot.

H.

The above article is reproduced from the Ulster Journal of Archaeology, vol. 2, 1854.