Irish language and special needs.

sonicthebadger*

Recently I mentioned to a friend that in Irish, or possibly in Brehon times so not modern Irish even, the word or phrase for a person with special needs was 'chosen by God'. I can't remember where I heard this exactly (I think it was a student of Irish in UCD a few years back) but I'm 99% certain I didn't make it up. Can anyone tell me am I close to the mark? And if so I'd really appreciate a reference to be able to look it up myself too.

P.S. My friend had a brother with Cerebral Palsy which is how we got talking about it and why I'm so interested to confirm my comment.

Cheers all

arse..biscuits

http://www.focal.ie/Search.aspx?term=chosen%20people%20of%20God&lang=1

No idea if this is any use?????

simu

Are you thinking of duine le Dia? literally: a person of God's/a person with God

sonicthebadger*

arse..biscuits wrote: »

http://www.focal.ie/Search.aspx?term=chosen%20people%20of%20God&lang=1

No idea if this is any use?????

That's lots of use yes! Think this might be what I was talking about.

sonicthebadger*

simu wrote: »

Are you thinking of duine le Dia? literally: a person of God's/a person with God

I could be, other people have said that to me too. I'm told by a friend that his Granny used to refer to his uncle (who had Down's Syndrome) as leanamh le Dia. She was from South Wexford.

Múinteoir

'Duine le Dia' is given as a translation for 'simpleton' in Foclóir Uí Dhónaill. That could certainly be interpreted as someone who is mentally disabled.

Kwekubo

sonicthebadger* wrote: »

That's lots of use yes! Think this might be what I was talking about.

My impression would be that "cine tofa Dé" would mean the same as the English phrase "chosen people of God", ie the Israelites.

"Duine le Dia" seems to be the phrase: http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/gaeilge/donncha/focal/focal080.html