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Galway espresions for use in an American novel

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  • 29-01-2021 6:47pm
    #1
    LPGriffin
    Registered Users Posts: 1 ✭


    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?
    Tagged:


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    #2
    simongurnick
    Registered Users Posts: 1,919 ✭✭✭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!


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    #3
    km85264
    Registered Users Posts: 146 ✭✭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


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    #4
    jeph13
    Registered Users Posts: 8 ✭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.


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    #5
    Insect Overlord
    Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 30,857 Mod ✭✭✭✭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. ;)


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    #6
    simongurnick
    Registered Users Posts: 1,919 ✭✭✭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.


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    #7
    simongurnick
    Registered Users Posts: 1,919 ✭✭✭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?


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    #8
    TobyHolmes
    Registered Users Posts: 411 ✭✭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


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    #9
    Insect Overlord
    Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 30,857 Mod ✭✭✭✭Insect Overlord


    simongurnick wrote: »
    You from Galway?

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


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    #10
    biko
    Registered Users Posts: 81,223 ✭✭✭✭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


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    #11
    simongurnick
    Registered Users Posts: 1,919 ✭✭✭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?


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    #12
    Hrududu
    Registered Users Posts: 1,711 ✭✭✭Hrududu


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


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