Gaeilge Ghriandóite: Sunburned Irish

This is the first of our titles under "World Irish".

The brain child of Colin Ryan and Val Noone, they first undertook to translate terms of Australian Flora and Fauna. Furthermore, a working party was established during the 2008 week-long Daonscoil, held in Bacchus Marsh near Melbourne, Victoria. There, interested learners and speakers met each afternoon to discuss which words would warrant an attempted translation.

Australia has a rich Irish heritage. Early in its convict days, particularly New South Wales had a strong population - nearly two thirds - with an Irish background. This cultural group had a big impact on today's Australia: its culture, place names, words and turns of phrases used, and perhaps even sound shifts.

Dymphna Lonergan investigates in her book "Sounds Irish" (published in 2004, Lythrum Press, Adelaide) the influence of early migrants to Australia, many of whom native Irish speakers, who left an indelible mark on what is known as Australian English.

Here, we are looking to enable what will be an ongoing discussion/ an asynchronous working party, and your participation is welcomed. Click Next below (or Introduction from the Article Index) to proceed to the official introduction by Colin and Val.