cow 115 



An t-eolas a rinn Calum-cille dh'aona bho na cailich. 



The charm given by St Colum to the old woman's only 

 cow. Plenty milk if well tended. 

 An uair a theid crodh chaich an diosg 's ann a ni Breunag 

 caise. 



When other people's cows are dry 'tis then " Breunag " (the 

 spiteful woman^ or the slattern) makes cheese. Said to 

 be "sheer cussedness." This savours of envy of one 

 who may have more foresight than her neighbours. 

 Aon a bhristeas an garadh 's a dha dheug a leumas. 



One (cow) breaks the dyke, and a dozen leap it. Applicable 

 to more than cows. 

 Aon mhart muilleir. 



A miller's one cow. Likely to be well kept. 

 Aon rud cho fuar 's a th' ann, adharc mairt. 



One of the coldest things, a cow's horn. If not she's unwell. 

 As a ceann a bhleighear am bo. 



From the head the cow is milked. As the cow is fed so she 

 yields. 

 Bas fodair, bas bo. 



A straw's death, a cow's death. Prolonged. 

 Be sin ainmeachadh ba air buachaille 's a toirt uaithe 'feasg-ar. 

 That were to name a cow on a herd, and to take it 

 from him at evening. It was and still is usual to allot 

 one of the cows to the cow-herd for his own supply of 

 milk. 

 Be sin " Ho " ! fada bho 'n chrodh. 



That were " Ho " ! (or a call) far from the cows. That is, 

 out of place, or before the time. 

 B' fhada bho cheile crodh-laoidh an da sheanair. 



Far apart were the milch-cows of their two grandfathers. 

 Marrying out of one's sphere. 

 Bidh adharcan fad' air a chrodh tha fada uainn. 



Far off cows have long horns. 

 Bidh fear na h-aona bho uair gun bhainne. 



The man of one cow will sometimes be without milk, or, 

 Bidh fear an aona mhart air uairibh gann, etc. 



The man of one cow will at times be scarce of milk. 

 Bleoghain a bho, ach na spion an t-uth aisde. 



Milk the cow, but do not tear the udder out of her. Good 

 advice to a beginner. 

 Bleoghainear na ba buidhe's olair an cuid bainne nuair thileas 

 na ba baine gun reic thun a bhaile. 



The yellow cows will be milked, and their milk drunk, while 

 the white cows come back (from the fair) to the town 

 and no bid for them, or unsold. Yellow cows are better 

 than white. This is applied to plain worthy girls matching 

 better than handsome showy ones. 



