Books

Pronunciation Guide for Spancil Hill

The story of Cahey in Spancil Hill begins in Ireland in 1885 when he was only seventeen. As I researched the book, I wanted to be able to keep the dual languages he had learned at great risk to him at the time. I researched the pronunciations but I am not an expert in the Irish language. I am sure there are errors but I wanted a way to say the names I heard in my head. My experience in community theatre influenced how I used the Irish language within the text of the book. I had a director tell me when I was playing Sara in Sisters Rosensweig by Wendy Wasserstein, “You don’t have to have an accent to play to the audience, you just need to pronounce a couple of words and the audience will get that you are living in London.” Those words were vitamin (vee- ta-men) and schedule (sha-dule). Here I offer my pronunciation guide should anyone want to work through pronouncing some of the Irish names, all researched to be actual names in Ireland in 1885. The phrases at the end of this list are offered as well. Note that all of the Irish phrases used in the book are followed by translations to allow the reader not to miss the meaning but to think a little about how the Irish sounds.

The Irish language is a Celtic language related to Scottish, Gaelic, and Manx (Isle of Man) as well as Welsh, Breton, and Cornish. According to irishlanguage.nd.edu, the word “Gaelic” in English derives from Gaeilge which is the word in Irish for the language itself. However, when English is being used, the Irish language is referred to as ‘Irish,’ not ‘Gaelic’.”

The British rule of Ireland from the 16th to 19th century, deliberately suppressed and marginalized the Irish language. British royalty wanted to eradicate Irish culture and promote English as the dominant language. Laws, such as the Administration of Justice (Language) Act (Ireland) of 1737, banned the use of Irish, discouraging its use in public life, education, and legal proceedings. This law was repealed with independence in 1922. Today, according to the Central Statistics Office of Ireland, almost 1.9 million people (aged three years and over) stated they could speak Irish, an increase of more than 112,500 people since Census 2016 (+6%). One in ten people who spoke Irish could speak it very well while a further 32% spoke it well. The majority of Irish speakers (55%) could not speak the language well.

Proper Names
Ardrahan – (are DRA han) village outside of Gort, Ireland
Ballinasloe – (BA lin as low) horse fair outside of Galway
Bardán – (bur din) Cahey’s brother who joins the British Army
Cahey – (KAY hey)
Cáit – (Kate) baby girl of Michael and Sheila
Camán – (ca men) [Connacht Dialect] stick used in hurling
Ceilidh – (KAY lee) social event for folk music and dancing
Clanricarde – (klan RIK ard) Lord Clanricarde
Colm – (calm) accountant at the distillery in Galway
Cnucha – (k nu ka) Battle of Cnucha, a hillock

Cumhal – (cum hall) Finn Mac Cumhal
Currachs – (CUR racks) a small round boat made of wicker covered with watertight material propelled with a paddle
Dunkellin – (DUNK e lean) Dunkellin River
Eileen Aroon – (I lean ah ran) folk song
Finegas – (fin GAS) Finegas the Bard
Gort – (gurt) village near Labane
Kilcolgan – (KI col gin) The Weir at Kilcolgan
Kloen – (clone) William Kloen
Labane Village – (le Bane) village where Micll lives
Maumturk – (ma turk) Maumturk Mountains
Micil – (MY cell) Cahey’s love
Mickileen – (MICK a lean) fugitive selling his horse to Cahey
Muirghein – (mur ren) wife of King Ryan
Ó hArrachtain – (O ha ra tane) English adaptation: Harrington
Ó Ruadháin – (O ru da he) King Ryan
Pádraig – (PAW drig) son of Seámus
Praiseach – (PRA shah) Connacht dialect, stew/gruel
Séan – (shawn) grandson of King Ryan
Seanaháthair – (shawn a hush) grandfather
Seámus – (shay mus) boss at distillery
Slieve – (sleeve) Slieve Bloom Mountains
Sliotar – (slit-er) a hard solid sphere slightly larger than a tennis ball, has a cork core covered by leather used in hurling

Sniffen – (SNIF fu) Sniffen Court, Cahey’s and Frederick’s house in New York
Somerindyck – (SOM ran deek) John Someindyck, owed property in the middle of Broadway above 76 th Street in New York
Stiabhna – (ste IB na) young man who disappears
Tirawley – (TI raw lea) Tirawley’s tide, ballad of Ireland

Irish Phrases
Amárach – tomorrow (a-MORE-da)
Ce bhfuil tú – How are things going? (kayn hee uh WILL too)

Charra – a charra, oh friend (ka ra)
Conás ‘tá tú – How are you? (KUN-uss tah too)
Dia dhuit – Hello (tia-goosh)
Fain – wait (fane)
Go gcuire Dia an t-ádh ort – May God put luck upon you (Guh gir’uh d’eeuh uhn tah ort)
Maidin – morning (MAY-din)
Nuair a bhíonn tú ag fágáil – When you are leaving (nu-air a bee-hem too egg fa-jile)
Rath Dé ort – good luck (rah-jay-urt)
Tráthnóna maith – good evening (tra-NO-na math)

Spancil Hill Book Launch Playlist

Artists:

Téada, referred to as a “traditional band with a worldwide reach,” has been one of Ireland’s leading traditional bands for more than two decades. They have appeared at major music festivals internationally including Rainforest World Music Festival, Penang World Music Festival, Edmonton Folk Festival, Harare International Festival of the Arts and World Music Festival in Taiwan. Having past performances in the US, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Africa, Russia, Israel and Australia, their tour will bring them once again to the US in 2024.

The Dubliners no longer perform after announcing their retirement in 2012, but they continue to be one of the most influential traditional Irish Folk Bands. They were originally founded in Dublin in 1962 under the name of The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group. In the early 1960s, the band performed regularly in pubs in both Dublin and London. In the later years of that decade, they gained popularity in Europe and the US. The last member of the original band passed in 2012 ending their 50 years of music making as The Dubliners, Ireland’s longest surviving musical act. They have influenced many generations of Irish bands, and their influence can still be heard in other Irish Folk Bands today.

Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh (Kevin O’Reilly) was born in Dublin in 1979. He grew up listening to vinyl albums of influential Irish bands and began playing the fiddle at age 10. Caoimhín also plays uilleann pipes, flute and whistle. He has collaborated with many Irish folk musicians and bands to tour Ireland and the US performing in smaller, more intimate listening venues. In 2011, this second album, entitled Deadly Buzz, for Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh and Mick O’ Brien was released to high acclaim.

Mick O’Brien was born in Dublin in 1961. He was educated in the Thomas Street Pipers Club on the Uilleann pipes. First recording with his family at age 13, Mick went on to record with numerous artists, including The Dubliners. His father was Dinny O’Brien who was a traditional “box” player and a resource of a wealth of tunes and inspiration.

Matt and Shannon Heaton are said to be “world-class American performers with Irish roots and universal appeal”. These Boston-based musicians play updated and traditional Irish songs and tunes with a combination of vocals and instruments including flute, accordion, guitar and bouzouki. The Heatons are a vital part of Boston’s thriving traditional music scene.

Playlist:

An Buailteoir Aerach, The Enchanted Lady, The Holy Land
Artists: Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh & Mick O’ Brien
Album: Deadly Buzz | Aoibhinn Crónán 
3:41

Medley: Doherty’s Reel, Down the Broom, The Honeymoon Reel
Artists: The Dubliners
Album: A Best of The Dubliners
3:36

Slides: Deálaí’s No. 1 & No. 2, The Peeler and the Goat
Artists: Téada 
Album: Ainneoin no Stoirme / In Spite of The Storm
2:47

Poll Halfpenny
Artists: Matt and Shannon Heaton 
Album: Lover’s Well
3:17

The Lone Bush, My Love is in America
Artist: Martin Hayes
Album: Live at the NCH 202
7:30

Reels: The Reel With the Birl, Carraigín Ruadh, Ryan’s Rant
Artists: Téada
Album: Ainneoin no Stoirme / In Spite of The Storm
3:13

Jigs: Brísdín Bréide, The Thatched Cabin, Morning Sunday
Artists: Téada
Album: Ainneoin no Stoirme / In Spite of The Storm
3:59

Jigs: Slip Jig, The Jig of the Dead, I Have a House of My Own with a Chimney Built on the Top of It, Paddy Breen’s, The Bird Call
Artists: Téada
Album: Ainneoin no Stoirme / In Spite of The Storm
4:10

The Lobster
Artist: The Gloaming
Album: The Gloaming 3
6:53

Song: Waltz: Ar an mBóithrín Buí, Tell Me Now
Artists: Téada
Album: Ainneoin no Stoirme / In Spite of The Storm
3:45

Spancil Hill
Artists: The Dubliners
Album: A Best of The Dubliners
4:03

Port an Deorai, An Phis FIuich
Artist: Paul Dooley
Album: Masters of the Irish Harp
3:07

Song: An Spailpín Fánach
Artists: Téada
Album: Ainneoin no Stoirme / In Spite of The Storm
2:49

Reels: James Murray’s, Porthole of The Kelp, The Watchmaker, The Spinning Wheel
Artists: Téada
Album: Ainneoin no Stoirme / In Spite of The Storm
4:31

Reels: Dinny O’Briens, The Sweetheart Reel, Paddy Kenny’s
Artist: Téada
Album: Ainneoin no Stoirme / In Spite of The Storm
3:56

Lost on Land
Artist: Lily Honigberg
Album: The Sun’s Valley
4:02

Slow Reel: Barndances: Gone for His Tea, Joe Derrane’s, All About Weaving
Artists: Téada
Album: Ainneoin no Stoirme / In Spite of The Storm
4:31                              

Song: Pé In Éirinn Í
Artists: Téada
Album: Ainneoin no Stoirme / In Spite of The Storm
3:54