From: irish-faq@pobox.com (Irish FAQ Maintainer) Sender: cpm@enteract.com (Christian Murphy) Newsgroups: soc.culture.irish,soc.answers,news.answers Subject: Irish FAQ: Glossary [10/10] Summary: explanations for common Irish words and phrases Path: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!news-out.cwix.com!newsfeed.cwix.com!newsfeed.tli.de!news-fra.pop.de!news.csl-gmbh.net!news.space.net!news.muc.de!salmon.muc.de!irish-faq Followup-To: soc.culture.irish Date: Mon, 08 Nov 1999 02:10:02 GMT Expires: Sun, 21 Nov 1999 02:10:02 GMT Message-ID: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU References: Lines: 645 Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu soc.culture.irish:308246 soc.answers:12704 news.answers:170622 Archive-name: cultures/irish-faq/part10 Last-modified: 2 Nov 98 Posting-Frequency: monthly URL: http://www.enteract.com/~cpm/irish-faq/ Part ten of ten. Frequently Asked Questions on soc.culture.irish with answers. Send corrections, suggestions, additions, and other feedback to Glossary 1) Geography 2) Irish Language 3) Irish Politics 4) NI Politics 5) NI Paramilitaries 6) Government 7) Semi-State Bodies 8) Taxation & Spending 9) Other Bodies 10) Sport 11) Current Affairs 12) NI Current Affairs 13) Dead White Males 14) Other Historical Terms 15) Monuments 16) Irish-America 17) Myth and Folklore 18) General Terms This is an attempt to explain some of the terms that come up in soc.culture.irish. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: 1) Geography Six Counties Another name for Northern Ireland The North Another name for Northern Ireland NI Another name for Northern Ireland NoI North of Ireland: frequently preferred to "NI" by nationalists. 26 Counties Another name for the Republic of Ireland The South Another name for the Republic of Ireland The Republic Another name for the Republic of Ireland ROI Another name for the Republic of Ireland ------------------------------ Subject: 2) Irish Language Irish a Gaelic language, closely related to Scots Gaelic Gaeltacht The areas where Irish is spoken as a first language Gaeilge The Irish for Irish Gaelic RnaG Raidio na Gaeltachta, Irish language radio station TnaG Teilifís na Gaeilge, Irish language TV station Fáinne Pin worn by fluent Irish speakers Currach a small boat made of a frame covered with waterproof material (Irish spelling "curach") Curragh flat, boggy area; _the_ Curragh is a plain in Co. Kildare, notable for its racecourse and the army barracks; also, an alternative spelling of Currach Ogham ancient script arranged along an edge or (later) a line, usually carved onto wood or stone, mainly preserved on stone monuments ------------------------------ Subject: 3) Irish Politics Fianna Fáil Traditionally largest single party in Ireland; formed by De Valera at the end of the civil war; literally translated "soldiers of destiny" (from some words in the national anthem). Pronounced roughly "Fee-na FOIL". Often abbreviated "FF". Fine Gael The "other" big civil war party and traditional enemy of Fianna Fáil. Pronounced roughly "Finn-nu GALE". Often abbreviated "FG". Labour Party Like British counterpart an evolving socialist party in a post-socialist world Progressive Originally an anti-Haughey splinter from Fianna Fáil; Democrats now their most likely partners in government; right-wing economically, liberal on social issues PDs Abbreviation for Progressive Democrats Democratic Left left-wing party with roots going back to "Official" Sinn Féin in the early seventies Sinn Féin (Today) a party with close ties to the IRA that gets most of its support in Northern Ireland; literally translated "we ourselves". Pronounced roughly "Shin FEIGN". Shinner Supporter of Sinn Féin 32CSC "Thirty two County Sovereignty Committee"; Republican committee critical of GFA and associated peace process Republican Formed after a 1986 split when Sinn Féin voted Sinn Féin to take up seats in the Dáil Green Party like other parties of its kind in Europe, focuses mainly on environmental issues Bunreacht na the Irish Constitution; mostly written by de Valera hÉireann in 1937; amended several times through referendum; articles two and three claim whole island and are therefore disliked by Unionists CJH Charles J. Haughey; veteran FF politician, Taoiseach many times during the eighties; came back from disgrace being dismissed from cabinet after Arms Trial (built up grassroots support by doing the "rubber chicken" circuit while in exile); always controversial and ruthless in power; retired while going was good but got caught up in corruption scandal and tribunals later CCOB Conor Cruise O'Brien; after career in Irish civil service, including spell at UN became Labour TD, later journalist and writer; famous for outspoken op-ed pieces in Saturday editions of Indo; joined UKUP and stood as a candidate in NI ------------------------------ Subject: 4) NI Politics UUP Ulster Unionist Party; traditionally the main Unionist party in Northern Ireland; sometimes known as the "Official" unionists SDLP Social Democratic and Labour Party; main Catholic and nationalist party DUP Democratic Unionist Party; Ian Paisley's party; usually tries to be more radical than the UUP Sinn Féin See definition under Irish Politics above Alliance A non-unionist, non-nationalist party UKUP United Kingdom Unionist Party; mainly Robert McCartney PUP,UDP Two small unionist parties with links to Loyalist terror groups Women's New party that tries to bring NI women's views Coalition to politics Orange Order Organisation for Protestant men; stages marches; c.f. AOH NICRA Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association; formed in 1967; later overtaken by sectarian violence and the start of the troubles ------------------------------ Subject: 5) NI Paramilitaries IRA Irish Republican Army; also known as the Provisionals or the Provos; main republican terrorist group Army IRA body that (apparently) makes policy and Council can only be overruled by an Army Convention (all members or delegated members) INLA Irish National Liberation Army; another republican terrorist group IPLO Irish People's Liberation Organisation; another republican terrorist group, splintered from the INLA; now thought defunct UDA Umbrella group for various loyalist paramilitary and terror groups UVF Ulster Volunteer Force; a loyalist terror group UFF a loyalist terror group; a cover name for the UDA Red Hand a loyalist terror group; often said to be a Commandos cover name for the UVF CLMC Combined Loyalist Military Command; seems to speak for loyalist terror groups; apparently they broke up recently CIRA Continuity IRA; breakaway associated with Republican Sinn Féin; (Óglaigh na hÉireann Leanunachas in Irish) CAC Continuity Army Council; apparently the CIRA equivalent of the IRA's Army Council (see above) RIRA Real IRA; splinter group that disagreed with IRA's ceasefire and "constitutionalism" LVF Loyalist Volunteer Force; extremist loyalist terror group ÓnhÉ Óglaigh na hÉireann (the Irish Volunteers); often used by republicans to refer to the IRA; lately used by RIRA to refer to themselves Chuckies supporters of the (provisional) IRA and Sinn Féin (from "tiocfaidh ár lá", republican slogan, meaning "our day will come", pronounced roughly "chucky hour law") Stickies supporters of the old "Official" IRA and Sinn Féin (now Workers Party) Taig derogotary term for Catholic and/or Nationalist, derived from Irish name Tadhg Hun derogotary term for "Protestant" and/or Unionist ------------------------------ Subject: 6) Government Dáil The lower house of the ROI parliament Seanad The upper house of the ROI parliament Leinster House The building where the Dáil and Seanad sit TD Teachta Dála (Dáil Deputy); an MP in the ROI Taoiseach The prime minister of the ROI Tánaiste The deputy PM of the ROI Uachtarán The Irish word for President Stormont The old parliament building in NI, often refers to the institution itself MEP Member of the European parliament, which sits in Strasbourg Secretary (in Britain) government minister of cabinet rank; of State in Irish context, usually the one responsible for NI Garda Short for Garda Siochána (guardian of the peace), ROI police RUC Royal Ulster Constabulary, NI police IDA Industrial Development Authority - ROI agency which tries to attract foreign investment IDB Industrial Development Board - NI equivalent of IDA FEC Fair Employment Commission - judges cases of religious discrimination in NI Westminster Refers to British parliament and/or government Gerrymander the manipulation of constituency boundaries to affect the outcome of an election or referendum (most effective under the first-past- the-post electoral system) [ named after Elbridge Gerry (1744-1814) U.S. politician and (at the time) Governor of Massachusetts who in 1812 devised a strangely shaped senate district that was caricatured into a salamander ] ------------------------------ Subject: 7) Semi-State Bodies Semi-State (in Ireland) Company in which the government has Body a controlling stake RTÉ Raidio Teilifís Éireann; Irish state broadcasting company; often accused of harbouring Dublin 4 attitudes Aer Lingus The state-owned airline CIÉ Coras Iompar Éireann, The ROI state bus/rail transport company, comprises Iarnrod Éireann (Irish Rail), Bus Átha Cliath (Dublin Bus) and Bus Éireann (Irish Bus) mainly VHI Voluntary Health Insurance - largest, and semi-state, health insurance company in ROI An Post Post office in ROI TÉ Telecom Éireann; Ireland's "The Phone Company" Bord na Móna Turf Bord Gáis Gas ------------------------------ Subject: 8) Taxation & Spending VAT Value Added Tax, a sales tax - 17.5% in NI, 12.5/21% in ROI Dole Unemployment benefit; hence 'government artist': a euphemism for 'drawing the dole' PAYE Pay As You Earn - taxation system where tax is deducted from your pay packet before you receive it; most important source of government revenue PRSI Pay Related Social Insurance ------------------------------ Subject: 9) Other Bodies ICTU The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (an all-Ireland body) IFA Irish Farmers Association, main ROI farmers group SIPTU The largest trade union IBEC Irish Business and Employers Confederation, the largest group of employers in the ROI SPUC Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child - large anti-abortion group ------------------------------ Subject: 10) Sport GAA Gaelic Athletic Association, the governing body of the indigenous sports; also used informally to refer to Gaelic football or Gaelic games in general (sometimes pronounced as if it were a word when used like this) Hurling Irish game played with sticks, like shinty Football Can refer to either soccer or Gaelic football Camogie The female version of hurling Croke Park The main GAA stadium, in Dublin; known in Irish as Páirc Uí Chrocaigh Hill 16 Stand at Croke Park Rule 21 The GAA rule that denies membership to people in British armed forces and RUC FAI The governing body of soccer in the South IFA The governing body of soccer in the North Landsdowne Rd. The stadium in Dublin where the all-Ireland rugby team and ROI soccer team play internationals Windsor Park Stadium in Belfast where NI soccer team plays internationals IRFU Irish Rugby Football Union - all Ireland rugby body ------------------------------ Subject: 11) Current Affairs EU European Union - economic and political alliance of 15 European countries X Case Infamous abortion rights case which resulted in a referendum in 1992 to 'clear up' the issue Extradition Sending someone who is wanted in another country on criminal charges to that other country; has often been an emotive issue in Ireland Brendan Smyth Case of pedophile priest and a delay in his Affair extradition from ROI to NI that led to a government falling Beef Tribunal Judicial enquiry in 1994(?) into irregularities of beef processing industry that revealed little and cost a lot; since then, several other tribunals have investigated other (suspected) political scandals with more or less success On Mature (now facetious) used to back out on an awkward Recollection statement after being found out; first used by Brian Lenihan, FF candidate in the 1990 presidential election, to admit on live television that he _did_ phone President Hillary in 1982 to ask him to refuse dissolution of the Dáil after the FG Taoiseach lost a vote of confidence; by not disolving the Dáil, Hillary would have allowed FF to try to form an alternative government by canvassing independent TDs; Lenihan's admission after repeated denials damaged his credibility lost him the presidency GUBU (facetious) coined by CCOB after CJH (Taoiseach at the time) described the discovery of a killer in the flat of the Attorney General as "grotesque, unbelievable, bizarre and unprecedented"; came to be used as a popular shorthand for all scandals involving CJH CAP Common Agricultural Policy - EU system of farm subsidies; largest portion of EU spending Veronica Guerin Dublin crime journalist who exposed organised crime activities and was murdered in 1996 triggering public outcry and referendum on stricter bail laws EU Structural EU funding for projects such as road building Fund similar to Cohesion Fund and Regional Fund Indo Irish Independent; largest circulation daily newspaper in Ireland Sindo Sunday Independent; largest circulation (surprise!) Sunday newspaper ------------------------------ Subject: 12) NI Current Affairs GFA Good Friday Agreement; the Northern Ireland settlement to end the troubles negotiated up until the early morning of the 10th of April, 1998, supported by majorities in NI and RoI in two simultaneous referenda in May; also referred variously to as the Belfast Agreement, the Stormont Agreement and the the British-Irish Agreement Downing St. Joint Anglo-Irish communiqué issued in November 1995 Declaration which started the policy of parallel "tracks" of negotiation: one for arms decommisioning and one for all-party talks Mitchell Recommendations for democratic and non-violent Principles negotiations, written by the International Body on Arms Decommisioning, headed by Senator Mitchell; principles state that "to take the gun out of Irish politics", all parties to negotiations should commit themselves "a. To democratic and exclusively peaceful means of resolving political issues; b. To the total disarmament of all paramilitary organisations; c. To agree that such disarmament must be verifiable to the satisfaction of an independent commission; d. To renounce for themselves, and to oppose any effort by others, to use force, or threaten to use force, to influence the course or the outcome of all-party negotiations; e. To agree to abide by the terms of any agreement reached in all-party negotiations and to resort to democratic and exclusively peaceful methods in trying to alter any aspect of that outcome with which they may disagree; and, f. To urge that "punishment" killings and beatings stop and to take effective steps to prevent such actions." Forum for Consultative body formed by ROI govt. comprising Peace and party groups from North and South, formed to Reconciliation "assist in identifying and clarifying issues which could most contribute to creating a new era of trust and co-operation on the island" of Ireland ------------------------------ Subject: 13) Dead White Males Strongbow Norman leader who led invasion of Ireland in 12th century Daniel 'The Emancipator'; Irish political leader and MP at O'Connell Westminster in early 19th century; campaigned against anti-Catholic laws and later for repeal of Act of Union to Britain; died in 1847; thought greatest leader of 19th century by many; portrait and credo is on 20 pound note Charles Stewart Late 19th century politician; first president of Parnell Land League; later, MP and leader of Home Rule Party; effective parliamentarian; demise followed scandalous affair with Kitty O'Shea; died after her divorce and their marriage in 1891 Éamonn Most important 20th century Irish nationalist de Valera politician; only commander not executed after Easter Rising; president of first Dáil; opposed Treaty but survived; founder of Fianna Fáil; President of Executive Council/ Taoiseach '32-'48, '51-'54, '57-'59; President of Republic '59-'73; died in 1975 Michael Irish republican leader; fought in Rising; highly Collins successful head of intelligence during War of Independence; member of Treaty delegation; shot dead in 1922 during Civil War while Commander-in-Chief of pro-treaty forces Edward Carson Barrister and Unionist politician; MP at Westminster; leader of Irish Unionist Party until 1921; proposed exclusion of Ulster from Home Rule and supported Ulster Volunteer Force in 1913; extremely successful legal and political career King Billy William of Orange; Dutch Protestant who won British throne from Catholic tyrant James II, the latter having made his last stand in Ireland; King Billy is fondly remembered by NI Protestants ------------------------------ Subject: 14) Other Historical Terms Wild Geese Originally, supporters of James II who left Ireland after the Treaty of Limerick in 1691 to form the 'Irish Brigade' in Louis XIV's army. Also used to refer to refer to all those who left Ireland in the 17th century, and sometimes (loosely) all Irish emigrants. Flight of Earls In 1607, the Earl of Tyrone, Hugh O'Neill, last leader of Gaelic Ireland, went into exile, bringing many Irish lords with him. ------------------------------ Subject: 15) Monuments Giants Causeway Structure of hexagonal basalt columns off NE coast Newgrange Stone-age passage grave; illuminated on winter solstice Blarney Stone Stone on castle wall which gives gift of the gab to those who kiss it, supposedly Knock Marian shrine in Co. Mayo; a place of pilgrimage ------------------------------ Subject: 16) Irish-America AOH Ancient Order of Hibernians - a group for Catholic Irish men; stages marches; c.f. Orange Order Morrison Named after Irish-American senator; scheme that gave Visa Irish people seeking residency in the US favourable treatment during late eighties ------------------------------ Subject: 17) Myth and Folklore Milesians Descendents of mythical Spanish king Milesius who supposedly conquered Ireland around 1300 BC; hence, Irish ------------------------------ Subject: 18) General Terms Craic Fun, good time Ceol Music Poteen Poitín; illicitly distilled whiskey, i.e. moonshine Culchie Dublin term for someone from the country Jackeen The opposite of culchie Dublin 4 Postal code of supposedly wealthiest part of Dublin; thus used to describe posh accents and attitudes; D4 is also supposedly a den of wishy-washy liberals ------------------------------ End of Irish FAQ part 10 ************************