![]() ![]() The em'rald of Europe, it sparkled and shone, ![]() God bless'd the green island and saw it was good When Erin first rose from the dark swelling flood, When Erin First Rose is credited with giving Ireland its beloved nickname, as it appears at the end of the poem's fifth verse: "Let no feeling of vengeance presume to defile/The cause of, or men of, the Emerald Isle." He wrote numerous poems dedicated to Ireland and its cause over his life before his death in 1820. At the very least, that's when it first appeared in print in William Drennan's poem 'When Erin First Rose', which describes the country as "the em'rald of Europe".ĭrennan came from an Ulster Presbyterian background in Belfast and was a founding member of the Society of the United Irishmen. Erin is also now a popular baby name found all over the world.Īs for where Ireland's most famous nickname comes from, the 'Emerald Isle' was seemingly coined in 1795. The phrase 'Erin go bragh' is an Anglicized spelling of the dative Irish phrase 'in Éirinn go brách', meaning 'in Ireland forever'. This form inspired the romantic Anglicized name for Ireland: Erin. This form is used when saying things like 'in Ireland' ('in Éirinn') or 'to Ireland' ('go hÉirinn'). The proclamation of the Irish Republic, for example, starts with 'Poblacht na hÉireann', meaning 'Republic of Ireland'.Īnother form of Ireland found in the Irish language is Éirinn, the dative case used in prepositional phrases. This is the genitive form used to show possession, such as 'people of Ireland' ('muintir na hÉireann'). You might also see Ireland referred to as 'Éireann' in the Irish language (pronounced 'Air-inn'). Read more: Common Irish last names and the fascinating meanings behind them Read more: Irish surnames that suggest you might have Viking ancestry The Irish name derives from that of the island's matron goddess Éiru, with an etymology that goes back to a Proto-Indo-European word that means 'fertile land' or 'land of abundance'. Ireland is the English name given to the country, with 'Ire' coming from the last three letters of its name in Irish: Éire (pronounced 'Air-a'). So how did Ireland get its name, as well as a world-renowned affectionate nickname? While its name is familiar to most, lesser known is its name's roots. Its residents, diaspora, and visitors all call it something different - from its official name, to "the old country", to "the Emerald Isle", to "home". Ireland has been known by many names over the years.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |