Galway espresions for use in an American novel

LPGriffin

I am writing a comic thriller novel based in Colorado and Wyoming, USA but with a key character from County Galway. Seamus was involved in deadly IRA actions as a teenager, fled to the US and survived as fugitive while carrying on his own intrigues for for forty years. I would like to sprinkle a few very Galway expressions in his speech. Any suggestions?

simongurnick

I'd suggest posting in the Galway thread under Regional.

Also determine if it county Galway (rural) or Galway city.

for the city, it would be stuff like:

- calling people "aul shtock"
- calling women "love" or "loveen"
-a term of endearment "me aul segotia"
- adding "een" to the end of people's names "pateen, seaneen, noeleen"
- how are you doing? answer: "grand now"
-I want to tell you something : "c'mere to me"
- no way! - "shtop!"
-the police are called "shades"

Loads more, but as I said depends where he is from. If you choose Tuam, then they have a whole dialect, Tuam shams.

Connemara is a whole other ball game too, but also might be more realistic for the IRA connection as it's traditionally been republican and a lot of connemara folks have emigrated to the US over the years. A lot of the lingo is a mix of english and irish out there.

Good luck with the book!

km85264

Simongurnick, I’d never heard of old segotia but my wife immediately said it was a Dublin expression, and as it turns out the Irish Times tends to agree

https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/ifs-and-butties-and-old-segotias-an-irishman-s-diary-about-dublin-words-for-friend-1.3483351

jeph13

Would agree figure out where in Galway as there can be a fair variety of sayings from area to area? Let us know and if I can add any that will help I’ll put them up.

Insect Overlord

It's also worth remembering that slang has changed over the years. Phrases that are popular today might not have been when your character was young.

I'd be skeptical about a few of the suggestions given above as well.

simongurnick

km85264 wrote: »

Simongurnick, I’d never heard of old segotia but my wife immediately said it was a Dublin expression, and as it turns out the Irish Times tends to agree

https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/ifs-and-butties-and-old-segotias-an-irishman-s-diary-about-dublin-words-for-friend-1.3483351

Come from galway and heard it many times. Maybe not exclusively galway then.

simongurnick

Insect Overlord wrote: »

It's also worth remembering that slang has changed over the years. Phrases that are popular today might not have been when your character was young.

I'd be skeptical about a few of the suggestions given above as well.

You from Galway?

TobyHolmes

LPGriffin wrote: »

I am writing a comic thriller novel based in Colorado and Wyoming, USA but with a key character from County Galway. Seamus was involved in deadly IRA actions as a teenager, fled to the US and survived as fugitive while carrying on his own intrigues for for forty years. I would like to sprinkle a few very Galway expressions in his speech. Any suggestions?

wow best of luck!


try this thread https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin//showthread.php?t=2056049025

Insect Overlord

simongurnick wrote: »

You from Galway?

Were Galway people really calling the Gardaí "shades" 40 years ago?

biko

Check out some old documentaries. Not only will you hear expressions but also see where shops were located etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adh58llAw-c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=of_y0zg-Uto

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74vMlRNzuIM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYpBhKNf-EE

simongurnick

Insect Overlord wrote: »

Were Galway people really calling the Gardaí "shades" 40 years ago?

He said over forty years, not forty years ago and for what its worth, I am 40 and they've been called shades all my life.
Based on your answer I'll take it you are not even from Galway at all?

Hrududu

He was in the IRA as a teen...in Galway?