Go mbeannaí Dia daoibh agus bhur gcéad míle fáilte isteach chuig the Bluffer’s Guide to Irish.
Well, let’s get back to Shakespeare’s seven ages of man. We’ve looked at being born, growing up, starting a family and before you know it, i bhfaiteadh na súl - in the blink of an eye, one finds oneself meánaosta - middle aged, a term that is very hard to define, although according to the Oxford English Dictionary middle age is between 45 and 65.
Fir mheánaosta amháin atá sa rialtas - the government is made up of middle- aged men is a truism throughout the world.
If someone time travelled from the 1920s, they’d be shocked to see how older people dressed.
Minseach faoi chraiceann meannáin is the Irish equivalent of the derogatory mutton dressed as lamb jibe but the Bluffer believes that people should wear whatever they feel comfortable in - although he draws the line at ponchos.
Age, as well as being chronological, is also psychological.
There is a nice phrase in Irish which goes Ná lig an seanduine ort go fóill - don’t let age catch up with you yet and today’s over-40s have definitely taken that to heart.
Disco floors from Bunrana to Ballbybunion will have its fair share of gorgeous grannies gyrating to the latest hits with their leather-trousered, fake-tanned husbands - chronologically 65, mentally 25.
Don’t forget that people growing up in the 1970s could have been fans of The Ramones, AC/DC. The Clash or Led Zeppelin.
That’s why you can go into a karaoke in one of the Costas and hear 60- and 70 year olds blasting out Sheena is a Punk Rocker or Whole Lot of Rosie!
For the middle-aged, the tell-tale signs are many.
Pianta cnámh - rheumatic pains, ribí sa ghaosán - hairs in the nose, and getting ar meisce - drunk on your first pint.
You will find yourself telling people things you could never have imagined in your youth.
“Thit mé i mo chodladh os comhair na teilifíse” - I fell asleep in front of the television or tá muid ag dul ar thuras mara - we’re going on a cruise or thaitin The One Show go mór liom - I really enjoyed The One Show.
You’ll find that staying in is the new going out, you haven’t a clue as to who is in the charts and , basically, you are turning into your parents. That thought drives some people. mostly men into what is called the mid-’life crisis.
Tá baois na meánaoise air - he is having a mid-life crisis as the Hyundai Getz gets traded in for a black Audi in order to show of his virility to girls half his age.
Sadly, they see him as a cross between their granda and Catweazle despite the whitened teeth and skin moisturised to within an inch of its life.
This, of course, is stereotype, you’ll be glad to hear.
Many of the middle-aged and old people he knows are leading fruitful and happy lives - despite the odd ache and pain.
Age is just a number and it’s your attitude to it that determines how happy you are - so get those dancing shoes on, we’re going to party!
CÚPLA FOCAL
i bhfaiteadh na súl (i watchoo ne sool) - in the blink of an eye
meánaosta(maaneesta) - middle aged
Fir mheánaosta amháin atá sa rialtas(fir maaneesta awine ataa sa reealtiss) - the government is made up of middle- aged men
Minseach faoi chraiceann meannáin(minshakh fwee khrackin manaan) - mutton dressed as lamb
ná lig an seanduine ort (naa lig un shaninya ort) - don’t let age catch up with you
pianta cnámh(peeanta craow) - rheumatic pains
ribí sa ghaosán(ribee sa geesaan) - hairs in the nose,
ar meisce (er meshka) - drunk
“Thit mé i mo chodladh os comhair na teilifíse” (hitch may i maw khuloo os core na chelifeesha) - I fell asleep in front of the television
tá muid ag dul ar thuras mara (taa midge eg dul er huriss mara) - we’re going on a cruise
thaitin The One Show go mór liom(hatchin TOS gaw more lum) - I really enjoyed The One Show.
Tá baois na meánaoise air (taa bweesh ne maaneesha er) - he is having a mid-life crisis