Attention international readers of the BWH blog; the following is the first lesson of the BWH THEFL (Teaching Hiberno-English as a foreign language) course:

Lesson 1: Idiomatic expressions in Ireland

Hector and Alan are meeting for a coffee. Below is their conversation..

Hector: How's she cuttin' Alan?

Alan: I'm feeling a bit shook.

Hector: The cut of ya! What happened man?

Alan: I'm knackered - I didn't sleep a wink last night.

Hector: Get that into to ya (handing him a coffee)

Alan: (tasting it) That's cat malojan! I'm taking this back for another - I'm going to chance my arm for a freebie. Where's Amy?

Hector: She's adont in the shop. Alan, the bulb is twisted off me today.

Alan: Why Hector?

Hector: Me car is banjaxed! Windscreen wiper broke, the jets are blocked and I got a blow out yesterday- I tell ya, I am as sick as a small hospital over it! The motor is going to be in the garage all day!

Alan: I hope the mechanic isn't cat-farting.

Hector: Ah no, he's a decent old skin

Alan: (standing up) Sorry Hector, I've to tear away - Keep Her Lit.

Hector: Keep Her Lit!

Glossary

How's she cuttin'? : How are you today?

Shook: unwell

The cut of ya! : You look unwell/ a mess

Knackered: very tired

Cat malojan: terrible

Chance my arm (to chance one's arm): try my luck

Adont: over there

The bulb is twisted off me: I am annoyed

Banjaxed: in a state of disrepair / broken

Cat-farting: to do a shoddy job through lack of care and attention

Decent old skin: honest man

To tear away: to leave immediately

Keep her lit: Remain positive

Breaking BWH news.. there is to be a rematch between reigning champion Mark Curran from Cahirciveen and challenger, William Campbell from Lisnagry, Co. Limerick in our Put your Town on the Map competition. The issue of a rematch arose when Mark stated that Roy of the Rovers was a magazine, when in fact it is a comic. The two will spar again tomorrow.

Cahirciveen fact of the day:  The Scarlett Pimpernel of the Vatican, Hugh O'Flaherty, is buried in the church grounds in Cahirciveen. He saved thousands of Jews and escaped POWs during the Second World War.

Hugh O'Flaherty: buried in Cahirciveen. Find out more about him here

And finally, below is the poem that Hector read out this morning. It was written by Mother Teresa and a copy of the poem was handed to Hector by a lady in Galway yesterday.

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.

Life is beauty, admire it.

Life is bliss, taste it.

Life is a dream, realise it.

Life is a challenge, meet it.

Life is a duty, complete it.

Life is a game, play it.

Life is a promise, fulfil it.

Life is sorrow, overcome it.

Life is a song, sing it.

Life is a struggle, accept it.

Life is a tragedy, confront it.

Life is an adventure, dare it.

Life is luck, make it.

Life is too precious, do not destroy it.

Life is life, fight for it.

And on that inspirational note... KHL