GO mBEANNAÍ DIA daoibh, hello to a red, white and blue 12 July Bluffer’s Guide to Irish.
Yes, it’s all the Irish you need if you are a fan of the Irish language and an Orangeman.
There is no contradiction there.
“Is ball den Ord Oráisteach mé” - I am a member of the Orange Order is what Dr Richard Routledge Kane, County Grand Master of Belfast from 1885 to 1898, would proudly have said.
Kane was no shrinking violet. Cuireadh síos dó - he was accused of inciting sectarian riots in Belfast in 1886 but that didn’t mean that he wasn’t a keen promoter of the Irish language and he was amongst the patrons of the Gaelic League when it was set up in Belfast in 1895.
(There is a really interesting story about Kane at bit.ly/3k4G5R3)
Different languages see colours differently so the Orange Order can be called either an tOrd Oráisteach or an tOrd Buí.
Fear buí is an Orangeman, a follower of An Rí Liam - King William of Orange aka King Billy who won the battle of the Boyne in 1690.
Most Irish rivers are named after goddesses and An Bhóinn - the Boyne is named after Boann, whose name derives from the Proto-Celtic bouwinda meaning a white cow.
The name features on Ptolemy’s map of Ireland which dates from AD 140.
But I digress.
As Linda Ervine often points out, it is as easy to say “Ná Géillimis” - “No Surrender” as to say “Tiocfaidh ár lá” - our day will come and Irish amongst members of the PUL community is more complex than their spokesperons would have you believe.
An Irish-speaking loyalist could easily say tá tine chnámh s’againne go hiontach - our boney’s beezer or is mó ceann s’againne ná ceann ar bith eile - ours is bigger than anybody else’s or even cá háit a bhfaighidh mé bratach na hÉireann? - where will I get a tricolour?
Now, the Bluffer is the first to recognise that not all bonfires are adorned with Irish flags, posters of opposition politicians and hanging effigies.
In fact, the bonfire at Ballyhalbert was quite lovely to see.
Some bonies are truly spectacular while others wouldn’t look out of place in Pisa, a cause of concern to all who value health and safety.
But once the bonfires have become smoking embers, the main event of An Dara Lá Déag - the twelfth and that of course is the paráideanna - the parades to the deafening sound of the Lambeg drum.
Lambeg comes from the Irish Lann Bheag meaning a little church while, interestingly, a former name was Tulaigh na Sagart, meaning the small hill known for its priests!
The parades are known for, amongst other things, an tSais - the Sash, whose colours they are fine, buíonta - bands playing tunes (that are also part of the traditional canon), meirgí - banners, marching men in bowler hats parading past thronged streets with the Union flag adorning handbags, hats, coats and other intimate items of clothing. Allegedly.
Anyway, let’s hope all have a peaceful Twelfth.
CÚPLA FOCAL
Is ball den Ord Oráisteach mé(iss baal den ord oraashtyakh may) - I am a member of the Orange Order
Cuireadh síos dó(keroo sheesh daw) - he was accused
AntOrd Oráisteach/an tOrd Buí (un tord oraashtyakh/an ord bwee) - the Orange Order
Fear buí(farh bwee) - an Orangeman
An Rí Liam(un ree liam) - King William
An Bhóinn(un woe-in) - the Boyne
Ná Géillimis(naa gaylamish) - No Surrender
Tiocfaidh ár lá(chucky aar laa) - our day will come
tá tine chnámh s’againne go hiontach(taa chinyee craow sageenya gaw heentakh) - our boney’s beezer
is mó ceann s’againne ná ceann ar bith eile(iss mo kyun sageenya naa kyun er beeh ella) - ours is bigger than any other one
cá háit a bhfaighidh mé bratach na hÉireann?(ca hiytch a wee may bratakh ne heran) - where will I get a tricolour?
An Dara Lá Déag(un dara laa jayg) - the twelfth
paráideanna(parajanna) - the parades
Lann Bheag(laan veg) - a little church
an tSais(un tash) - the Sash
buíonta(beweenta) - bands
meirgí(merigee) - banners