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Surge in the Gaelicisation of people's surnames on TV?

  • 17-02-2005 3:29pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 185
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    Years ago it was pretty rare, and would normally only be seen in the context of a specific Irish language programme. To use a gaelicised surname while speaking through the medium of English was sort of a political statement. My guess is that anyone looking for a job and a life in England in the 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's would have been very, very reluctant to use this version. In recent times it seems to have surged, particularly among the new generation of female TV presenters.

    Just wondering what the reason for this is, decrease in the tensions in the North, genuine love of the Irish language, a pseudo-ethnic affectation? And if it's OK to use the gaelicised version while speaking English, do you think it's OK for someone without a word of Irish to gaelicise their name and for a British person to refer to Ireland as Eire?

    What's the English version of ni Bheolain?


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Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 396 Rossonero
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    It's probably becoming a trend. People might think they're being patriotic using their Irish name?

    As for the English using Eire, some of our own use it too. Even on the stamps which is wrong.
    'Eire' just means free state. Eireann is the proper name which means free Republic or Nation.

    Don't know what ni Bheolain means. Whelan?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,641 Elmo
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    I think you will find that one of the reasons for this phenomana is due to TV3 and others robbing staff from TG4.

    ni Bheolain = Don'k Know, sharon was orginally on Nuacht RTE
    O'hEochagain = Haugey
    Seoige = Joyce

    I was thinking of changing my name back to the Irish.

    You have to remember the british impossed Anglised names on us, it wasn't a choice. I know that up to a few decades ago many people would use the english first name for the birth cert, yet use the Irish version as there name.

    e.g. Liam - William, Michéal - Michael etc.

    If the british want to refer to the Republic through Irish I don't mind them using Poblact Na hEireann (sp?) and for the North Tuisceart Na hEireann.

    And when talking about the whole Island of Ireland - Eire.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,537 Downtime
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    Romo wrote:
    What's the English version of ni Bheolain?


    Boland - A1 Sharon.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 185 Romo
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    Downtime wrote:
    Boland - A1 Sharon.

    Sharon Boland doesn't quiet have the same ring. Don't jump on me, and I'm sure they love the language, but I think there is a tinge of affectation about this. I get the feeling there were a lot of Boland's looking for work in England in the 80's but not many ni Bheolain's.

    I guess it's only a matter of time before we see the Ulster-Scotisation of Surnames among TV presenters in the North.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 396 Rossonero
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    Elmo wrote:
    O'hEochagain = Haugey

    O'hEochagain = geoghan

    I went to a gaelscoil with a friend called O'hEoch....


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,681 Johnny_the_fox
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    It's probably becoming a trend.

    Or maybe thats their real family name... i.e on their birth certificate


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,537 Downtime
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    O'Heochaigh is Haughey I think


  • Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 35,731 pickarooney
    Mod ✭✭✭✭


    It's probably becoming a trend. People might think they're being patriotic using their Irish name?

    As for the English using Eire, some of our own use it too. Even on the stamps which is wrong.
    'Eire' just means free state. Eireann is the proper name which means free Republic or Nation.

    Saorstát = Free State
    Eire = Ireland
    Eireann = genitive form of Eire
    Poblacht = Republic
    Náisiún = Nation

    I think.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 396 Rossonero
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    IMO Ireland should change it's name back to Hibernica, what it was named at the beginning by the Romans (Native Irish hadn't a name for the land)

    Hibernica- The land of Winter


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,313 sanncoo
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    For the sun lovers here.....no truer description has ever been posted!! Brrrr!


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 10,730 simu
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    Romo wrote:
    Years ago it was pretty rare, and would normally only be seen in the context of a specific Irish language programme. To use a gaelicised surname while speaking through the medium of English was sort of a political statement. My guess is that anyone looking for a job and a life in England in the 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's would have been very, very reluctant to use this version. In recent times it seems to have surged, particularly among the new generation of female TV presenters.

    A fair amount of these women would be Irish speakers who started out on TG4.

    Also, I don't think there's such a stigma attached to being Irish in England anymore so people don't have to try to hide it.

    It's more of a personal or cultural statement than a political one for most people nowadays.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,641 Elmo
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    O'hEochagain = geoghan

    Tell your friend that Mac Eochagain is the Irish for Geoghegan.

    Oh it's my name too. :D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 69 stoopidkid
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    O hEochagáin is keoghan.. according to my granny.. who has spoken irish for 76 yrs.. so i'd go with her


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