Top of the morning to you

pablomakaveli · 15-08-2013 12:12PM #1

I find a lot of my British friends say this to me a lot and are usually surprised when i tell them that i never use that greeting and I don't know anyone who does either.

Which makes me wonder does anyone in Ireland use this greeting? Does anyone here on Boards greet people with "Top of the morning" or know anyone who does?

For a greeting that seems to be strongly linked with Ireland for foreigners it doesn't seemed to get used a lot here.

smash · 15-08-2013 12:13PM

Believe it or not, Australians don't always cook shrimp on the barbie either...

princess-lala · 15-08-2013 12:14PM

We're not all leprechauns either though!

gobnaitolunacy · 15-08-2013 12:15PM

smash wrote: »

Believe it or not, Australians don't always cook shrimp on the barbie either...

Or call each other 'cobber', drink Fosters, or go round with hats with corks dangling from them.

Top of the morning, may be a stereotypical term popularised by 19th century music hall acts.

Dan Dare · 15-08-2013 12:15PM

Bottom of the afternoon to you!:eek:

Agricola · 15-08-2013 12:16PM

Never heard anyone use it except for my mother. She uses it only on special occasions such as British or American relatives visiting. It's a bit embarrassing but she is an Ireland's Own reader so doesnt get the ironing really.

smash wrote: »

Believe it or not, Australians don't always cook shrimp on the barbie either...

Was talking to an Aussie the other night and said something like "Struth, stone the crows sheila, fair dinkum" First thing he said was that only Alf Stewart talks like that!

holystungun9 · 15-08-2013 12:17PM

smash wrote: »

Believe it or not, Australians don't always cook shrimp on the barbie either...

Correct, they say prawn not shrimp.

HondaSami · 15-08-2013 12:18PM

Darby o gill and the little people have a lot to answer for.

wazky · 15-08-2013 12:20PM

Its actually, "Top o the morn ta ya".

Amirani · 15-08-2013 12:24PM

smash wrote: »

Believe it or not, Australians don't always cook shrimp on the barbie either...

There is definitely many a "shark in the water" though.

JohnFalstaff · 15-08-2013 12:29PM

Bing Crosby has a lot to answer for - between this and the Toora Looras...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4CGpWFJMO4

BeerWolf · 15-08-2013 12:30PM

La di day la he la hay ha he says I...

Vinz Mesrine · 15-08-2013 12:30PM

What does it even mean?

Insect Overlord · 15-08-2013 12:33PM

Vinz Mesrine wrote: »

What does it even mean?

I think it's a slight mistranslation of an Irish greeting, "Barr na maidine ort". Barr usually means "top", but can be used figuratively to mean "the best".

"May the best offerings of the morning be upon you" would be more accurate (and horribly convoluted), but "Good morning" would also work quite nicely.

Micky Dolenz · 15-08-2013 12:35PM

I love stuff like that and speak it as often as I can. I'd also do a little jig while I speak.

Vinz Mesrine · 15-08-2013 12:36PM

Insect Overlord wrote: »

I think it's a slight mistranslation of an Irish greeting, "Barr na maidine ort". Barr usually means "top", but can be used figuratively to mean "the best".

"May the best offerings of the morning be upon you" would be more accurate (and horribly convoluted), but "Good morning" would also work quite nicely.

"Hows it goin?" suits me just fine

[-0-] · 15-08-2013 12:46PM

A stereotype that isn't true.

Shocker!

Vinz Mesrine · 15-08-2013 12:50PM

[-0-] wrote: »

A stereotype that isn't true.

Shocker!

So we dont need to stand around the airports leaning on a stick while wearing a tweed jacket, paddy cap and smoking some form of pipe while devouring a pint of guinness? All the while keeping a sheep on a rope.

Insect Overlord · 15-08-2013 12:54PM

Vinz Mesrine wrote: »

So we dont need to stand around the airports leaning on a stick while wearing a tweed jacket, paddy cap and smoking some form of pipe while devouring a pint of guinness? All the while keeping a sheep on a rope.

And a pig under your arm.

Vinz Mesrine · 15-08-2013 12:55PM

Insect Overlord wrote: »

And a pig under your arm.

Begorrah!

pablomakaveli · 15-08-2013 12:56PM

Vinz Mesrine wrote: »

Begorrah!

That another one i've never understood either. What does begorrah even mean?

the purple tin · 15-08-2013 12:57PM

It's a popular saying in America, especially among those who have Irish heritage. Now I'm off to carve a potato whistle :pac:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15qc3_joy5A

15-08-2013 01:19PM

Insect Overlord wrote: »

And a pig under your arm.

Make sure it's a Pig and not a Tapir.

akura · 15-08-2013 01:21PM

My, what fine looking PO-TAY-TOES!
:pac:

who the fug · 15-08-2013 01:25PM

akura wrote: »

My, what fine looking PO-TAY-TOES!
:pac:

How did fecking PO-TAY-TOES rubbish start, first time I noticed it was Keith Lemon , having a go at Jedward

Plazaman · 15-08-2013 01:30PM

the purple tin wrote: »

It's a popular saying in America, especially among those who have Irish heritage. Now I'm off to carve a potato whistle :pac:

And let them stick their Frosted Lucky Charms where the sun don't shine. I have no interest in having a big bowl of diabetes for my breakfast thank you very much. Healthy breakfast rolls swimming in brown sauce all the way for me.

pablomakaveli · 15-08-2013 01:39PM

who the fug wrote: »

How did fecking PO-TAY-TOES rubbish start, first time I noticed it was Keith Lemon , having a go at Jedward

I think it was Keith Lemon started it altogether.

It's amusing to see how an English person thinks they're being so original and funny by saying it to me when they first learn i'm Irish despite the fact i've now heard that joke a million times already.

who the fug · 15-08-2013 01:47PM

pablomakaveli wrote: »

I think it was Keith Lemon started it altogether.

It's amusing to see how an English person thinks they're being so original and funny by saying it to me when they first learn i'm Irish despite the fact i've now heard that joke a million times already.

I just look over my glasses and give them my Are you ****ting me look

Ace Attorney · 15-08-2013 01:55PM

Its just a stereotype that seems to have been around a long time and romanced by american films about Ireland, shur its the same thing as your english mates meeting up and have tea and crumpets all the time

Pumpkinseeds · 15-08-2013 01:57PM

A lot of English people still believe the whole begosh and begorra stereotype exists. My husband is English and I know he felt very cheated that my family didn't live in a cottage and cook over a turf fire. He was very disappointed by that on his first visit to Ireland:D

The first Christmas that I spent with his family, his Mother bought me a celtic locket with a begosh and begorra Irish prayer/greeting on it. His brother bought me a Father Ted dvd. I mean Jaysus H

:( It was a long time ago but I still cringe at the memory of it:D

who the fug · 15-08-2013 02:54PM

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

A lot of English people still believe the whole begosh and begorra stereotype exists. My husband is English and I know he felt very cheated that my family didn't live in a cottage and cook over a turf fire. He was very disappointed by that on his first visit to Ireland:D

The first Christmas that I spent with his family, his Mother bought me a celtic locket with a begosh and begorra Irish prayer/greeting on it. His brother bought me a Father Ted dvd. I mean Jaysus H:( It was a long time ago but I still cringe at the memory of it:D

A bit off topic but big changes in the 54 years since my father first arrival in deepest deepest kerry

Himself and the mother were collected by the grandfather in a sidecar from station , and taken to the house with no running water or electricity.

Amazing how you could get on a train in Manchester and end up 24 hours later two miles from the house in Kerry

Weird thing about it was my mothers aunt remembered his grandfather doing tours of inspection of the coast guard during WW1

Top of the morning to you

Comments