Irish proverbs

Proverbs from all Irish speaking parts of the world.

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An cleas a bhíos ag an deaid, bíonn sé ag an mac.
- Translation: The trick the father has, the son has.
- English equivalent: Like father, like son.
- Meaning: Sons may look and behave like their fathers. This is due to inheritance and the example observed closely and daily.
- Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 170. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.

Bíonn cluasa ar na clathacha.
- Translation: The walls have ears.
- Valone (2010). Ireland's Great Hunger: Relief, Representation, and Remembrance. University Press of America. p. 172. ISBN 0761848991.

"Bíonn gach tosú lag."
- Translation: "Every beginning is weak."
- Swedish equivalent: We all start out as children.
- Wales. Board of Celtic Studies (1968). The bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies. University of Wales Press.

"Bíonn cluasa ar na clathacha"
- Translation: "The fences (walls) have ears"
- Valone (2010). Ireland's Great Hunger: Relief, Representation, and Remembrance. University Press of America. p. 172.

Casar na daoiní ar a chéile, ach ní chastar na cnuic.
- Translation: The people meet each other but the hills do not.
- Idiomatic translation: A mountain never meets a mountain, but a man meets a man.
- Meaning: There are some things/events that are impossible, like an encounter of mountains, but there is always a chance for people to meet. or Once can always find a possibility for revenge.
- Source for proverbs and meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 213. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.

Is trian de'n obair tús a chur.
- Translation: It is a third of the work to begin.
- English equivalent: Well begun, is half done.
- Meaning: Starting properly ensures the speedy completion of a process. A – beginning is often blocked by one or more obstacles (potential barriers) the removal of which may ensure the smooth course of the process.
- Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 228. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.

Leig isteach ar chluas as amach ar cluas.
- Translation: In at one ear and out at the other.
- English equivalent: Advice most needed are the least heeded.
- Meaning: For various reasons a good advice or a genuine warning is often disregarded or considered of no importance.
- Source for meaning and proverb: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 179. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.

"Ná bac le mac an bhacaigh, agus ní bhacfaidh mac an bhacaigh leat"
- Translation: "Don't bother the beggar's son and the beggar's son won't bother you."
- Meaning: Mind your own business and let others mind theirs.
- Oppenheimer (2006). The origins of the British: a genetic detective story : the surprising roots of the English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh. Carroll \& Graf. ISBN 0786718900.

Na h-éisg bheaga a bheathuigheas na h-éisg mhóra.
- Translation: The little fish feed the big fish.
- Idiomatic translation: Men are like fish; the great ones devour the small.
- Meaning: A weak person/group/community/country can be an easy prey to an immoral, powerful one.
- Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 420. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.

"Ní bhíonn airgead amadáin i bhfad ina phóca."
- Translation: "A fool's money is not long in his pocket."
- Meaning: A fool and his money are soon parted.
- Oppenheimer (2006). The origins of the British: a genetic detective story : the surprising roots of the English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh. Carroll \& Graf. ISBN 0786718900.

"Ní mar a shíltear a bhítear."
- Translation:"Things aren't as they seem."
- Oppenheimer (2006). The origins of the British: a genetic detective story : the surprising roots of the English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh. Carroll \& Graf. ISBN 0786718900.

"Ní thagann ciall roimh aois."
- Translation: Sense does not come before age.
- Meaning: The oldest people are the wisest.
- Swedish equivalent: Old is the oldest.
- MacFarlane (2001). The Little Giant Encyclopedia of Proverbs. Sterling. p. 64. ISBN 0806974893.

"Ní thuigeann an seach an seang."
- Translation: "The well fed person doesn't understand the hungry one."
- Meaning: You can't understand what you haven't experienced.
- Oppenheimer (2006). The origins of the British: a genetic detective story : the surprising roots of the English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh. Carroll \& Graf. ISBN 0786718900.

"Níor bhris focal maith fiacail riamh."
- Translation: "A good word never broke a tooth."
- Meaning: It doesn't hurt to pay a compliment.
- MacFarlane (2001). The Little Giant Encyclopedia of Proverbs. Sterling. p. 255. ISBN 0806974893.

Toradh an chrainn a thuitfeas an duilleabhar.
- Idiomatic translation: The apple does not fall far from the tree.
- Meaning: Children observe daily and — in their behaviour — often follow the example of their parents.
- Source for proverbs and meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 259. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.