“There is no strength without unity.”
Ní neart go cur le chéile.
Source: Traditional Irish seanfhocal, public-domain oral tradition
Traditional Ireland Wisdom
Seanfhocail na hÉireann
Folk & Oral Tradition
Who is Traditional Ireland Wisdom?
Traditional Ireland Wisdom gathers the proverbs and sayings (seanfhocail, literally "old words") that have been passed down orally among the Irish people for many generations. These lines have no single named author; they are the shared inheritance of farmers, fishermen, storytellers (seanchaithe), and elders who compressed hard-won experience into a few memorable words, most of them first spoken in the Irish language (Gaeilge). Irish proverbs frequently draw on community, hospitality, home and hearth, the land and sea, faith, and the value of the mother tongue, and they teach solidarity, diligence, humility, and caution in speech. Much of this wisdom was carried through a strong oral culture in which recitation, song, and fireside storytelling preserved learning long before it was written down. Because these sayings live in everyday speech rather than in a fixed printed source, small variations exist between regions and retellings. This platform records the widely recognised forms and, in keeping with its accuracy rule, presents them as traditional public-domain oral tradition rather than attributing them to any one person.
Sources: Traditional Irish oral tradition (seanfhocail), public-domain folk wisdom · Irish-language proverb tradition (Gaeilge), widely recognised public-domain forms
Quotes by Traditional Ireland Wisdom
“A good start is half the work.”
Tús maith leath na hoibre.
Source: Traditional Irish seanfhocal, public-domain oral tradition
“There is no fireside like your own fireside.”
Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin.
Source: Traditional Irish seanfhocal, public-domain oral tradition
Sponsored
ZakGT — the world's books & quotes, by country
Real words. Real people. One global standard.
“It is in the shelter of each other that people live.”
Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine.
Source: Traditional Irish seanfhocal, public-domain oral tradition
“Health is better than wealth.”
Is fearr an tsláinte ná na táinte.
Source: Traditional Irish seanfhocal, public-domain oral tradition
“Praise the youth and they will flourish.”
Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí.
Source: Traditional Irish seanfhocal, public-domain oral tradition
Sponsored
ZakGT — the world's books & quotes, by country
Real words. Real people. One global standard.
“Broken Irish is better than clever English.”
Is fearr Gaeilge bhriste ná Béarla cliste.
Source: Traditional Irish seanfhocal, public-domain oral tradition
“Often a person's mouth broke their nose.”
Is minic a bhris béal duine a shrón.
Source: Traditional Irish seanfhocal, public-domain oral tradition
“What is seldom is wonderful.”
An rud is annamh is iontach.
Source: Traditional Irish seanfhocal, public-domain oral tradition
Sponsored
ZakGT — the world's books & quotes, by country
Real words. Real people. One global standard.
“Travellers have tales to tell.”
Bíonn siúlach scéalach.
Source: Traditional Irish seanfhocal, public-domain oral tradition