Go mbeannaí Dia daoibh agus bhur gcéad míle fáilte isteach chuig the Bluffer’s Guide to Irish.
Well, what can we discuss today except what is going on in cúrsaí polaítiochta - political affairs.
Who’da thunk it? Talks are ongoing but it looks like there could be a comhrialtas - a coalition between the Tóraithe - the Tories (did you know that tory comes from the Irish word for a highway man?) and the DUP.
Well, with the British Taoiseach, Theresa May, desperately in need of the DUPs ten votes, it’s a seller’s market.
So, what vocabulary will you need to chat about the ructions across the water?
Well, many people on the meáin shóisialta - social media are talking about polasaithe an DUP - DUP policies.
The ones coming up all the time refer to an pósadh aerach - gay marriage.
The party founded by Ian Paisley is ina éadan - against it. Other parties are i bhfach leis - in favour of it.
You can try this out as an exercise by asking people what they think of various topics - anything from aerachas - being gay to capital punishment or boob tubes - and they can answer tá mé ina éadan - I am against it or tá mé i bhfách leis - I am in fabour of it.
So another of the DUP’s main social policies is its opposition to anginmhilleadh - abortion.
Many in the other parties are against abortion as opposed to the consensus across the water.
Some (I don’t know what the percentage is) in the DUP also believe in cruthaíochtachas - creationism, ie the theory that the world is the same age as Bruce Forsyth.
Ní chreideann siad in athrú aeráide - they don’t believe in climate change, like their friend in the White House.
The DUP are also big supporters of an Bhreatimeacht - Brexit although they are keen to have a ‘soft” border.
However, the Bluffer doesn’t believe that these issues will feature in the idirbheartaíocht - negotiations about forming a minority government in Westminster.
It’ll be more of a case of “show me the money” as the DUP can be didactic about social issues but more flexible when it comes to finance matters.
They have to be careful how to pitch their case.
Ask for too much and they will be slapped down.
Theresa May cannot be seen to throwing billions of pounds (on top of the RHI bill) at Our Wee Country while people in the north of England or the midlands are still living under the jackboot of déine - austerity.
A proper infrastructure system in west Belfast could win them a lot of new friends in the republican heartlands but a woman who wanted to take school meals of children and winter heating grants from the elderly is not going to agree to that.
Again, while the Bluffer was dóchasach - optimistic that Acht na Gaeilge was on its way, he now thinks it is further down the line than he hoped.
But no-one can deny we don’t live in interesting times and the fortunes of people and political parties are subject to unexpected twists and turns. Watch this space.
CÚPLA FOCAL
cúrsaí polaítiochta(coorsee politcheeakhta) - political affairs
comhrialtas(coe-reealtiss) - a coalition
na Tóraithe(ne toreeha) - the Tories
meáin shóisialta(maan hoesheealta) - social media
polasaithe an DUP(polaseeha un DUP) - DUP policies
pósadh aerach(pawsoo ayrakh) - gay marriage
ina éadan (ina aydan) - against it
i bhfách leis(i waakh lesh) - in favour of it
aerachas(ayrahiss) - being gay
tá mé ina éadan(taa may ina aydan) - I am against it
tá mé i bhfách leis(taa may i waakh lesh) - I am in favour of it
anginmhilleadh(un ginvilyoo) - abortion
cruthaíochtachas (cruheeokhtahiss) - creationism
ní chreideann siad in athrú aeráide(nee credgen shade in ahroo ayraidge) - they don’t believe in climate change
an Bhreatimeacht (in vratimakht) - Brexit
idirbheartaíocht(idirvarteeakht) - negotiations
déine(jaynya) - austerity
dóchasach(dawkhasakh) - optimistic
