1. An té nach bhfuil láidir, ní foláir dó bheith glic.   
   He who is not strong must be clever.
2. Ní mar a síltear a bítear
   Things may not be as they seem to be
3. Muna bhfuil agat ach pocán gabhair, bí i lár an aonaigh leis.
   If you only have a buck-goat, be in the middle of the fair with it.  [Use whatever talents you have got]
4. An té a bhíónn siúltach, bíonn scéaltach
   He who has travelled has stories to tell
5. Giorraíonn beirt bóthar
   Two people shorten the road [because of the company]
6. Ní huasal ná íseal, ach thuas seal is thíos seal
   Neither noble nor lowly, but up for a while and down for a while
7. Ní bhíonn saoi gan locht
   There is no expert without a fault
8. Is fearr an t-imreas ná an t-uaigneas
   The fight/argument is better than the loneliness
9. Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí
   Praise youthfulness and it will respond to you
10. Ní thagann ciall roimh aois
    Sense does not come before age
11. Ní neart go cur le chéile
    There is not strength until there is unity
12. Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin
    There is no fireside like your own fireside [There's no place like your own home]
13. Is minic cuma aingeal ar an diabhal féin
    It is often that the devil himself has the appearance of an angel
14. Filleann an feall ar an bhfeallaire
    The crime rebounds on the criminal, i.e., you reap what you have sown
15. Ní feidir an dubh a chur ina bhán air
    You can't convince him that black is white
16. Glacann bán dubh, ach ní ghlacann dubh bán
    White accepts black, but black does not accept white
17. Is treise gliocas ná neart
    Cunning is stronger than (superior to) strength
18. Má théann tú ag iomarscáil leis an salachar, saileofar thú
     If you mess with dirt, you will become dirty.  If you lie down with dogs, you'll get up with fleas
19. Gach aon ní mar is cóir - is an pota seomra ar an drosar!
     Everything as it should be - and the saucepan on the dresser!  A place for everything, and everything in its place.
20. An gad is giorra don scornaigh is córa a réiteach ar dtús.
    One should first of all loosen the knot that is nearer the throat.  Prioritise - first things first!
21. Beireann deoir ón tsúil suaimhneas don chroí
    A tear from the eye brings comfort to the heart.
22. Is fearr an té a éiríonn ná an té a thiteas
    Better the person who gets up to try again than the one who falls (and stays there).  If at first you don't succeed, try again.
23. Gach duine agus a thruamhéil féin aige
    Everybody has their own sorrows and troubles
24. An rud a bailítear go bocht imíonn sé go bocht
    That which is poorly gathered will poorly depart.  You don't appreciate that which comes too easily
25. An rud is annamh is iontach
    Seldom is wonderful
26. Ni bhíonn an rath ach mar a bhíonn an smacht
    One will not succeed without discipline
                                                                                              

Top of Page  Barr an Leathnaigh