The countdown to the All-Ireland is well underway as Kerry start the march to Dublin to wrestle the Dubs this Sunday for the honour of getting their fingerprints on the Sam Maguire.
With the two rival tribes mixing and mingling this weekend and to prevent any stand-offs in Coppers we thought we’d offer a guide for both set of fans to better understand each other.
With the All-Ireland
KERRY EXPRESSIONS
1. Mighty
Us Irish are renowned for our effusive use of words but possibly our greatest linguistic achievement is to save time on an actual conversation by simply throwing out 1 word. Kerry folks have cornered this market with their use of ‘Mighty’. Anything from a strong wind to Seamus Moynihan’s thighs can be summed up with a nod of the head and a simple ‘Mighty!’ e.g “He’s a mighty man to kick a point and sink a pint that fella”
2. Chrisht lads!
Yet another swiss army knife of an expression which can be used in times of anger, exasperation, joy, fear and sexual arousal.
e.g “Chrisht lads did you see price of the pint in the Big Tree...it’s a scandal”
3. Mullocker
A description of a big lumbering, awkward player, you’re most likely to hear a Kerry person use this in relation to an opposing player considering no Kerry footballer has ever done anything wrong...ever!
“Chrisht lads I know he’s only 6 but that O’Sullivan lad is some mullocker there at corner back
4. ‘He’s some man for wan man’
The highest praise on offer in Kerry and as opposed to the previous entry you will ONLY hear it in relation to a member of the Kerry panel, Michael Fassbender or Fungi.
e.g “Did ye see Fassbender in that fillim Shame...christ lads he’s some man for wan man”
5. Yerra
Another conversational chameleon, Yerra once used smartly and sparingly can be used to drive a nail into any shitetalk, Yerra is impossible to explain to any foreigner but is one that covers more bases than Shakespeare.
e.g “The world is going down the jacks with water charges, ISIS and the financial crisis in China you say?.....Yerra!”
Dublin Expressions
1. Gerrupowwadah!
Used to express utter disbelief/irritation/disdain for a great injustice. The ref will be hearing this a lot from The Hill.
e.g “Ah jayzus ref...a free for dah?...sure it’s only a bleedin’ broken leg....GERRUPOWWADAH!”
2. Story bood?
Often just reduced to a simple ‘Story’. This is a standard Dublin greeting
e.g “Story bood”
3. Stall it!
The unexpected or unwanted stopping of an engine to most, Dubs use this expertly and efficiently to get a pal to wait or stop.
e.g “Here Jayo...Dorset Stree is fulla culchies...I’ll be a few mnits so stall it there”
4. Culchie/Bogger
We advise anyone to buy shares in either of these terms before the weekend. Used to refer to anyone not born and raised in the Dublin metropolitan area. Seems to exclude anyone from Kildare and Wicklow which are now essentially considered suburbs.
e.g “Bleedin’ culchies askin’ bleedin directions...do I look like a bleedin’ Garmin”
5. The Stateya!
A glorious insult thrown to run salt into the wound of a pal who imbibed above recommended level of alcohol the night before has offended the user with their dress sense or is just a general embarrassment to all and sundry.
e.g “Ah Noeler...the stateya last night...yew lwere like an extra from the bleedin’ Walking Dead ya were”
