ar ḟear cnáide, bad is the end which over- takes the giber. Ní ḃiḋeann triúg gan adḃar, no occurrence (this word is not known to me—Ed) is without a cause. Tart ar ḃruaċ sroṫa, thirst on the brink of a stream = a desire about to be gratified.
Cork (Kingwilliamstown):—Ní’l sprid (spioraid) ná púca gan ḟios a ċúise féin, there is not a ghost or pooka that does not know its own history. Biḋeann duine ina leanḃ ḋá uair, man is twice a child. Is dóiṫ le fear na buile gur ab é féin fear na céille, the madman thinks that himself is the sane man. Ní h-iad na mna deasa ċuireann pota ar fiuċaḋ, it is not beauty (pretty women) boil the pot. Duine gan dínnéir, beirt gan suipéir, one without dinner is as bad as two without supper. Is fearr an té ċuireann aitinn ar cloiḋ ioná an té ċurieann caisleán san gcoill, better is he who plants whins in a dyke, than he who builds a castle in a wood.
West Clare:—Is trom í an ċearc i ḃfad, at a distance a hen looks heavy (= hills are green far away). Ní do’n aḃras an ċeud- ṡnáiṫe, the first thread is not part of the yarn. (Cp. the Connemara ḃeiṫ aig iar- raiḋ aḃrais ar ṗuicide, looking for yarn on a goat). Gaċ neaċ ag toċras ar a ċeirtlín féin, everyone is winding-in his own ball (consulting for his own interests). Is beag an ṁaiṫ an ḃó an tan ḋóirteas sí a cuid bainne, little good is the cow when she spills her milk. Is fearr súil le beul an ċuain, ioná súil le beul na h-uaġa, it is better to have hopes (of return of friends) from the mouth of the sea, than from the mouth of the grave. (Other versions, is fearr súil le muir ioná súil le h-úir (= clay); is fearr súil le glas (prison) ioná súil le h-uaiġ). Nuair a ṫeiḋeann an gaḃar go h-ursain, ní h-áil leis go dtéiḋ go h-altóir (= get an inch an take an ell), lit., when the goat goes (= is allowed to go) as far as the porch, he is not satisfied until he goes up to altar (front seat). Is minic do ḃain bean slat do ḃailfeaḋ í féin, often did a woman pull a rod which would beat herself. Is dána é an madraḋ i ndoras a ṫiġe féin, the dog is bold when standing in the doorway of his own house. Ní fearr Éire ioná a luaċ, nothing (lit., not even Ireland) is better, worth more, than its value. Ní ḟanann muir le fear ualaiġ, the sea does not wait for a man with a cargo. Iomarcaiḋ ban i dtiġ gan aḃras, nó iomar- caiḋ capall i mbaile gan treaḃaireaċt, too many women in a house without yarn (household work), or (is the same as) too many horses in a place without ploughing. Ní feoil putóg, agus ní bainne bláṫaċ, a “pudding” is not meat, and buttermilk is not (mere) milk. An uair raċair ag mar- ḃaḋ do ṁaṫar, marḃ í, age quod agis, lit., when you go to kill your mother, kill her. Ní fearr iomarcaiḋ de’n léiġeann ioná fá n-a ḃun, too much learning is not better than too little (than under it). Two of doubtful meaning:—is fearr suiḋe i mbun na cruaiḋe ioná suiḋe in a h-áit, cf. is fearr suiḋe ’na aice ioná suiḋe ’na ionad. Is beag an rud (or, is beag rud?) is buaine ioná an duine.
Kerry.—Cúngraċ tiġe, cúngraċ croiḋe, cúngraċ biḋ trí anacra móra; narrowness of house, n. of hear, n. of food (some say corcáin, no. of the pot for cooking), three great evils. Níor ṁoṫuiġ an sáṫaċ sáṁ an t-ocraċ riaṁ, the contented, well-fed man never felt for the hungry man, cp., ní ṫui- geann an sáṫaċ an sreang. Ní féasta gan róstaḋ, ní céastar go bpóstar, no feast is without a roast piece, no real torment is ex- perienced until marriage. Ní biaḋ bainne, ní bainne bláṫaċ; ní feoil putóg aċt déanaiḋ sásaṁ, they satisfy us. Is fearr an ṁaiṫ a déantar ’s a maoiḋtear, ioná an ṁaiṫ ná déantar agus ná maoiḋtear, the good that is done an boasted of, is better than what is undone and unboasted of.
