Ulster Irish/Dúlra
I (Jake Dalzell) spent two weeks in the Donegal Gaeltacht in June 2025. Here are some words I heard that refer to the natural world, animals, etc. Note here [è] is a vowel between [ɛ] and [e].
Beathach
horse
Árainn Mhór [bèəx], ar a bheathach [ɛr ə ˈv´èəx]
Compare Toraigh [b´aː][1].
Cáitheadh na dtonn
sea spray
Rann na Feirste [kæhu]
This has been merged with caitheadh which is pronounced the same way.
Caora
Rann na Feirste gen. pl. [ɴə gᴇːrəx]
This is the traditional genitive plural, with a different vowel [ᴇː] to the nominative [ɯː].
Clár
flat plain (of the sea)
Toraigh “Tá an fharraige 'na chlár.”
Creabhar
cleg, horsefly
Árainn Mhór [k´r´awer], pl. [nə ˈk´r´awer´]
Creimeadh isteach
Erosion, undercutting (of a cliff)
Rann na Feirste [k´r´ɛm´u]
Crúbóg
Edible Crab (Cancer pagurus)
Compare portán. This distinction was known to speakers from Árainn Mhór and Rann na Feirste.
Dos
A small tuft of grass
Toraigh [dʌs] “Ní fhásfadh dos ar bith ansin” (of a barren place)
Gaoth chothrom
Even wind
Toraigh [gɯː ˈxɔr̥əm]
Giobach
choppy, rough (of the sea)
Toraigh [g´ʌbɑ]
Glas binne
trapped below a cliff
Rann na Feirste: Tá caora faoi ghlas binne [fiː ɰʟɑs b´ɪ̈ɴ´ə] A sheep has gone down a cliff and is now trapped below it.
Iomghaoth
Sudden strong gust of wind
Toraigh pl. [ʌˈmiaha]
Interesting that the stress is on the second syllable – could be an idiosyncracy or perhaps due to the word having a compound origin (im- + gaoth). The speaker commented that this was a “focal a bhí ag na seandaoiní”.
Leathach
wrack (seaweed)
Árainn Mhór [L´èəx]
Compare Toraigh [ʟ´aː][1], which is rhymed with trágha [trɑː] in the song Beití Sailí Deain:
Nuair a théimse siar chun na trágha
A chur amach bodóg agus leathach
Mea Ghabhair?
Snipe
an Spidéal [ˌm´æː ˈɣawer´]
I know this isn't an Ulster dialect but I heard it when I was in Donegal so I'm putting it here...
Portán
Shore Crab
Árainn Mhór [partan]
Compare crúbóg. This distinction was known to speakers from Árainn Mhór and Rann na Feirste.
Ruball
Rann na Feirste gen. [rʌb´l´ə ~ rʌbl´ə]
Saotharcán
Lapwing
Rann na Feirste [sᴇːrkan]
Compare Toraigh saotharcóg [sᴇːrkɔg].[1]
Sceartán
tick
Árainn Mhór [ɕk´artan]
Sceith
spawning (of herring)
Rann na Feirste [ɕk´e]
The vowel here was almost approaching [ɪ].
Stacán
sea stack
Rann na Feirste [stakan]
