Translations

A series of posts leading up to/including The Nocturnes Photo Tour in the West of Ireland, July 15-25, 2013; with a personal Genealogical Research Extension, in and around Ballina, County Mayo, July 25-29)

A brilliant 3-act play by Irish playwright Brian Friel - first performed in Derry in 1980 (with Liam Neeson as character Doalty). Should be required reading for Americans travelling to Eire for the first time - or second, or third . . .

From Act Two
Late August 1833, an exchange between Lieutenant Yolland and Owen (son of the local schoolmaster), working to translate local placenames into English for purposes of the survey map:
Yolland 
Go back up to where the new school is being built and just say the names again for me, would you?
Owen 
That's a good idea. Poolkerry. Bally Beg -
Yolland 
No, no; as they still are - in your own language.
Owen 
Poll na gCaorach,
      Yolland repeats the names silently after him.
Baile Beag, Ceann Balor, Lis Maol, Machaire Buidhe, Baile na gCall, Carrair na Ri, Mullach Dearg -
Yolland 
Do you think I Could live here?
Owen 
What are you talking about?
Yolland 
Settle down here - live here.
Owen 
Come on, George.
Yolland 
I mean it.
Owen 
Live on what? Potatoes? Buttermilk?
Yolland  
It's really heavenly.
Owen  
For God's sake! The first hot summer in fifty years and you think it's Eden. Don't be such a bloody romantic. You wouldn't survive a mild winter here.
Yolland 
Do you think not? Maybe you're right.

From The [not so] Daily Nocturne