Irish language Questions and Answers on the theme of Halloween

Watch Ben and Niall role-play a series of questions and answers on the theme of Halloween!

While the subject relates to the customs of Samhain (Halloween), this script and recording is a super tool for Irish language learners ! Role play the conversation with your friends and family using the transcript below.

Watch the accompanying video where Ben and Niall give valuable insights into its grammar – including question forms and tenses such as the conditional and past habitual!

Ben is from Kerry and Niall is from Tyrone, so this script and video have both the Munster dialect and the Ulster dialect covered!

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the script

Ben:

An maith leat Oíche Shamhna?
/Un mah lyat Ee-heh How-nuh?/

Do you like Halloween night?

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Niall:

Is breá liom Oíche Shamhna, ach ar an drochuair cuireann na tinte ealaíne as do mo mhadadh.
/Iss braa lyum Ee-ehe How-nuh, okh air un drukh-oor kurr-en nah chin-ta al-een-yah as duh muh wad-oo/

I love Hallowe’en night, but unfortunately the fireworks upset my dog.

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Ben:

An gcreideann tú i dtaibhsí?
/Un gred-en thoo ih dyv-shee?/

Do you believe in ghosts?

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Niall:

Creidim, gan amhras, ach ní chreidim i zombaithe.
/Kred-im, gon ow-riss, okh nee khred-im ih zom-bah-heh/

Yes, without doubt, but I don’t believe in zombies.

Tá an cás go bhfuil ann do zombaithe tite as a chéile!
/Thaw un kawss guh wil on duh zom-bah-heh tit-uh os a kyay-luh/

The case that zombies exist has fallen apart!

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Ben:

Cén t-am a bheidh na leanaí áitiúla chugat ag cnagadh ar an doras Oíche Shamhna?
/Kayn towm ah vegg nuh lyan-ee aw-it-ooh-luh khooth egg knog-uh air un durr-us Ee-heh How-nuh?/

What time will the local children be to (with) you knocking on the door on Halloween night?

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Niall:

Beidh siad chugam chomh luath agus a bheas an ghrian imithe faoi.
/Bay shee-ud khug-um khow loo-ah a-gus ah vay-uss un gree-un im-ih-heh fwee/

They will be to (with) me as soon as the sun has set.

Beidh roinnt de na leanaí beaga chugam níos luaithe, fiú.
/Bay rint de nah lyan-ee byug-uh khug-um nee-uss loo-ih-heh fyoo/

Some of the small children will be to (with) me even earlier.

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Ben:

Cad a thugann tú do na leanaí  – milseáin, nó rud éigin níos sláintiúla?
/Khod ah hugg-en thoo duh nuh lyan-ee – meel-shaw-in, noe rud ay-ginn nee-us slaw-in-too-luh?/

What do you give the children – sweets or something more healthy?

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Niall:

An dá rud! Chaithfeá milseáin a thabhairt dóibh nó bheadh achrann, ach tugaim roinnt cnónna agus torthaí dóibh fosta.
/Un daw rud! Khah-haw meel-shaw-inn ah hoo-irt doe-iv no vay-oo okh-run, okh tug-im rint kno-in-uh a-gus tur-hee doe-iv fuss-tha/

The two things (both)! You’d have to give them sweets or there would be strife, but I give them some nuts and fruit too.

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Ben:

Cad iad na nósanna a bhíodh ag do theaghlach Oíche Shamhna nuair a bhí tú féin óg?
/Khod ee-ud nuh no-ssuna ah vee-ukh egg duh hi-lukh Ee-heh How-nuh noo-irr a vee thoo fayn owg?/

What are the customs that your family had on Halloween night when you yourself were young?

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Niall:

Lasaimis tine chnámh sa ghairdín gach bliain.
/Los-im-ish chin-eh krawv suh ghor-deen gokh blee-in/

We would light a bonfire in the garden every year.

Bhíodh cál ceannann againn don dinnéar a raibh boinn airgid agus fáinne curtha i bhfolach ann ag mo mháthair.
/Vee-oo col kyan-in ag-ginn dun din-ayr a row bwin ar-uh-gid a-gus faw-inyeh kur-heh i vol-ukh on ig muh waw-hirr/

We would have colcannon for dinner that my mother had hidden money coins and a ring in.

D’imrímis cluichí traidisiúnta, fosta.
/Dim-ree-mish klih-hee trad-ish-oon-thuh fuss-tha/

We would play traditional games too.

Mar shampla, bhíodh úlla ar snámh i mbáisín uisce is chaithfeá breith ar cheann i do bhéal.
/Mar ham-plah, vee-oo oo-la air snaw-oo I mosh-een ish-kuh iss khoh-haw breh air kyun I duh vay-ul/

For example, there would be apples floating in a basin of water and you would have to catch one in your mouth.

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See also our other free Halloween content.