nuər’ ə v’iː-ən
ən f’iːn ə-s’t’iɣ
b’iː-ən ən k’iəl ə-miɣ
When the wine is in(side), the sense is out(side).
Note: Clearly this is an admonition about the dangers of consuming alcohol. Most people accept it in good humor, however, since it only mentions “fíon” (wine) and leaves stout, beer and “uisce beatha” unscathed.
Note also: The seanfhocal employs the words “istigh” (the state of being inside) and “amuigh” (the state of being outside). Irish generally makes distinctions between movement towards a location and presence in that location. In English, one could sat that a person went “in” the door and then was “in” the room. In Irish, on the other hand, “istigh” would be used when saying that someone was “in” the room. To indicate the action of going “in”, a different word (isteach) would have to be used. These distinctions are made throughout the language in ways that are sure to delight a Béarla-trained mind.
