GO mBEANNAÍ DIA daoibh, hello to the happy harried and to singletons alike, you’re more than welcome to the Bluffer’s Guide to Irish.
“Love and marriage, love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage...” crooned old Blue Eyes in the days were much simpler.
Pósadh is the Irish for marriage and a wedding, póstaí are marriages and bainis - is the dad dancing wedding reception.
The Bluffer read a magazine article recently which asked “When do you think a person is ready for marriage?”
One of the things that came up as a pre-requisite was aibíocht - maturity.
Tháinig sé/sí in aibaíocht - means he/she matured.
So, basically, if the man in your life is still bringing his washing home to his Mammy, then maybe he might not be ready for settling down.
Or if Manchester United /Celtic/Rangers/Errigal Ciaráin or any other sports team are his only subject of conversation, then it’s going to lead to a lot of silences.
Más fearr leis a bheith ag ól lena chairde - if he prefers to be drinking with his mates to dinnéar rómansúil faoi sholas coinnle - a romantic, candle-lit dinner with you, then popping the question might be the last thing on his mind.
On the other hand, if the babe of your dreams is more interested in Love Island than going to the Eamon Phoenix lecture you booked, then the portents don’t look positive.
Of course, it might be the guys who are into candle-lit dinners and Love Island and the girls might rightly be faoi dhraíocht ag - fascinated by Eamon Phoenix so we have to avoid stereotypes.
But there so many facets to picking out Mr or Mrs Right.
An bhfuil dúil ag do chairde ann/inti? - do your friends like him/her or does that matter?
Cad é a dhéanfá mura mbeadh dúil ag do thuismitheoirí ann/inti? What would you do if your parents didn’t like your him/her?
Many’s a relationship has foundered on a mother thinking a girl wasn’t good enough for her big son and a father thinking a young man
Then before you decide to get wed, there are questions such as cá mhéad páiste ba mhaith leat? How many children would you like; an mbeifeá sasta bogadh thar lear - would you be willing to move abroad and an mbíonn tú ag srannfaí - Do you snore? Sometimes it’s the little things that are so important!
In 2019, there were 7,255 Marriages registered in the north, 103 of these being civil partnerships.
In the south, the number of marriages celebrated in 2020 more than halved in comparison to 2019 - out down mainly to Covid.
It was also found that brides and grooms are getting older - average age reaching 35.7 years for brides and 37.8 years for grooms in opposite-sex marriages while the average age of both male and female in same-sex marriages was 40.0 years
Interestingly, civil marriage ceremonies were the most popular ceremonies for both opposite-sex and same-sex couples in 2020.
CÚPLA FOCAL
pósadh(pawsoo) - a marraige or wedding
póstaí(pawstee) - marriages
bainis(baaneehs) - a wedding reception
aibíocht - (abeeakht) maturity.
Tháinig sé/sí in aibaíocht (hanick shay/she i maydeeakht) - means he/she matured
Más fearr leis a bheith ag ól lena chairde(maass far lesh a vay eg awl lena kharja) - if he prefers to be drinking with his mates
dinnéar rómánsúil faoi sholas coinnle(jinyair romansool fwee huliss kinle) - a romantic, candle-lit dinner
faoi dhraíocht ag(fwee greeakht eg) - fascinated by
An bhfuil dúil ag do chairde ann/inti?(un wil dooil eg daw kharja ann/intchee) - do your friends like him/her
Cad é a dhéanfá mura mbeadh dúil ag do thuismitheoirí ann/inti?(cadge ay a yanhaa mura mayoo dooil eg daw hismihoree un/intchee) - What would you do if your parents didn’t like him/her?
cá mhéad páiste ba mhaith leat?(ca vayd paashta ba why lat) How many children would you like?
an mbeifeá sásta bogadh thar lear(un mayha saasta bugoo har laar ) - would you be willing to move abroad
an mbíonn tú ag srannfaí (un eean too eg sranfwee) - Do you snore?