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Head of Zeus
Motherfoclóir
Motherfoclóir: Dispatches from a not so dead language by Darach O'Séaghdha

Bestseller & Winner of the Popular Non-Fiction Irish Book Award.

'Thought-provoking, irreverent and often laugh-out-loud hilarious' Irish Independent.

"Motherfoclóir" [focloir means 'dictionary' and is pronounced like a rather more vulgar English epithet] is a book based on the popular Twitter account @theirishfor.

As the title suggests, Motherfoclóir takes an irreverent, pun-friendly and contemporary approach to the Irish language. The translations are expanded on and arranged into broad categories that allow interesting connections to be made, and sprinkled with anecdotes and observations about Irish and Ireland itself, as well as language in general. The author includes stories about his own relationship with Irish, and how it fits in with the most important events in his life.

This is a book for all lovers of the quirks of language.

Head of Zeus * Language and Literary Studies
07 Sep 2017 * 240pp * £3.49 * 9781786691859
REVIEWS
'A completely fresh take on the Irish language'
Irish Examiner
'Full of familiarity, of nostalgia, of humour and warmth. The author's voice really brings the book and the language to life - he somehow manages to remove all the boring aspects, and replaces them in with rich stories, with quirks, with colour and poignancy ... I'll be recommending it heartily'
Sara Baume, author of Spill Simmer Falter Wither and A Line Made By Walking
'Ó Séaghdha picked an opportune time for his grá for Gaeilge to flower among a receptive readership'
Irish Examiner
'A fun book on a great subject'
Sunday Business Post
'It's thought-provoking, irreverent and often laugh-out-loud hilarious'
Irish Independent
'It takes an irreverent, pun friendly and contemporary approach to the Irish language and it's a book for all lovers of the quirks of the Irish language'
Tullamore Tribune
Author

Darach O'Séaghdha

Darach O'Séaghdha
Darach O'Séaghdha is the author of popular twitter account @theirishfor. He lives just outside Dublin, where he works as a civil servant during the day and explores language at night and in the early morning.
ALSO BY Darach O'Séaghdha
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