I think we’re all guilty of not using our cúpla focail enough. However, unknown to yourself you might be using more Irish words on the farm than you think.

For example, when a cow is calving and you see the feet coming, at home we’d say: “she has the crúbs out” – short for crúibíní which means (little) hooves.

We would also still say: “get a few caoráns to start the fire” – which translates to fragment or small sod of turf.

ADVERTISEMENT

Bring in a “gabháil” of turf, meaning armful, is another one.

Loilíoch (lill-ee-uck) was a new word I learned this week and it means a heifer who has just given birth and is producing milk for the first time.

If you have any more farming focail, please get in touch.