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Gallivanting With Words: How the Irish Speak English
'Not only is Gallivanting with Words a treasure trove of fascinating facts, it's also funny. Very funny.' JOHN CREEDON
'Colm explains and elevates our unique linguistic heritage in a book that will be treasured by generations to come; it's hilarious and full of love for our language and the people who use it.' DONAL RYAN
Gallivanting With Words is a captivating tour of the phrases, quirks and glorious oddities that make Hiberno-English so special. From Shakespearean echoes in 'WE'LL HAVE THE TAY' to old curses — 'MAY THE DEVIL MAKE A LADDER OF YOUR SPINE' — this is language to be celebrated and enjoyed.
Rambling from Cork to Connemara, you'll meet LANGERS, DOSES and GURRIERS; learn the difference between NOTHING TOO HECTIC and getting LOCKED; and find out why foxes caused SHENANIGANS. Along the way, you'll discover words from THEMUNS and USSUNS, hear the SLAGGING from the GAA sideline, and maybe even steal a SNEAKY SHIFT.
Warm, sharp and gloriously Irish, this book is both a love letter and a laugh-out-loud romp through the words that shape us — the ones we use, the ones we've lost and the ones that make us who we are.
'Colm explains and elevates our unique linguistic heritage in a book that will be treasured by generations to come; it's hilarious and full of love for our language and the people who use it.' DONAL RYAN
Gallivanting With Words is a captivating tour of the phrases, quirks and glorious oddities that make Hiberno-English so special. From Shakespearean echoes in 'WE'LL HAVE THE TAY' to old curses — 'MAY THE DEVIL MAKE A LADDER OF YOUR SPINE' — this is language to be celebrated and enjoyed.
Rambling from Cork to Connemara, you'll meet LANGERS, DOSES and GURRIERS; learn the difference between NOTHING TOO HECTIC and getting LOCKED; and find out why foxes caused SHENANIGANS. Along the way, you'll discover words from THEMUNS and USSUNS, hear the SLAGGING from the GAA sideline, and maybe even steal a SNEAKY SHIFT.
Warm, sharp and gloriously Irish, this book is both a love letter and a laugh-out-loud romp through the words that shape us — the ones we use, the ones we've lost and the ones that make us who we are.
289 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 30, 2025
14 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Colm O'Regan
12 books11 followersColm O’Regan is a critically acclaimed stand-up comedian, columnist and broadcaster. He writes a weekly column for the Irish Examiner and has written for national online and papery publications on both sides of the Irish Sea. Colm is a columnist with RTE Radio 1’s Drivetime, BBC World Service’s In The Balance and BBC World News’ Talking Business. He has also written and presented two half hours of comedy for Radio 1 with more to follow next year.
Colm is one of Ireland’s most in- demand after-dinner comedian. He also MCs awards ceremonies, corporate communications days and has acted as a panel moderator, bringing an entertaining touch to economics in Ireland, Europe and the USA. As a standup comedian, he has performed all over the world. His stand-up has also featured on RTÉ’s Late Late Show and on Comedy Central.
Colm set up and runs the @irishmammies Twitter account which, with over 210000 followers was the inspiration behind his previous three bestselling books of Irish Mammies and Bolloxology, a good humoured rants about the modern world. His first novel, Ann Devine Ready for Her Close-up, launched March 14th, is available online and in all good bookshops.
From Dripsey in County Cork, Colm now lives in Dublin but he’s up and down that road a good bit.
Colm is one of Ireland’s most in- demand after-dinner comedian. He also MCs awards ceremonies, corporate communications days and has acted as a panel moderator, bringing an entertaining touch to economics in Ireland, Europe and the USA. As a standup comedian, he has performed all over the world. His stand-up has also featured on RTÉ’s Late Late Show and on Comedy Central.
Colm set up and runs the @irishmammies Twitter account which, with over 210000 followers was the inspiration behind his previous three bestselling books of Irish Mammies and Bolloxology, a good humoured rants about the modern world. His first novel, Ann Devine Ready for Her Close-up, launched March 14th, is available online and in all good bookshops.
From Dripsey in County Cork, Colm now lives in Dublin but he’s up and down that road a good bit.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 1, 2026
My friend Ruth gave me this wonderful book for my birthday. (We share a mutual interest in all things language related.) It is about the Hiberno-English that we all speak here in Ireland. It’s very educational while also being laugh-out-loud funny.
Of all the books I have read in the past number of years this book has provided the greatest amount of entertainment. Primarily because it has generated endless conversations in my friend’s WhatsApp group. All of the supplemental regional footnotes and phrases being added by the group are fantastic. People recounting phrases that were in common use when they were growing up. Weeks of interesting and amusing conversations flowed from our discussions of the various chapters.
In the first chapter I encountered some old linguistic friends. The ‘sangwidge’ that still stands out at me whenever I visit Ballinasloe. And the “fillum” in our cameras that provided endless amusement to our English colleagues at One-Hour-Photo in London back in the day.
The section on the extra ‘S’ made me laugh out loud. It’s the reason why in Ireland we go to Lidls and Tescos (and Dunneses). And the reason people wonder why the sign outside Eason is missing the ‘S’ at the end.
It’s no exaggeration to say that the book has changed the way I listen and speak. I am now giving myself permission to use many Hiberno-English phrases that I would have frowned upon in the past.
A good example is “ye” which I’ve always resisted because I saw it as a culchie-ism. It turns out all forms of English have a plural version of “you” except for English-English. American English has “y’all”. Scottish and Australian have their own. And here in Ireland we have “ye” down the country, and “yiz” in Dublin. I’ve added it to my lexicon and now ye will all have to just put up with me.
Although written in a light,amusing, accessible style, (the author describes the book as a Christmas stocking filler) the content of the book is backed up with thoughtful linguistic basis with plenty of references to more academic sources if one was inclined to study the topic in more depth.
I strongly recommend this book, particularly for readers based in Ireland.
You will feel seen.
Of all the books I have read in the past number of years this book has provided the greatest amount of entertainment. Primarily because it has generated endless conversations in my friend’s WhatsApp group. All of the supplemental regional footnotes and phrases being added by the group are fantastic. People recounting phrases that were in common use when they were growing up. Weeks of interesting and amusing conversations flowed from our discussions of the various chapters.
In the first chapter I encountered some old linguistic friends. The ‘sangwidge’ that still stands out at me whenever I visit Ballinasloe. And the “fillum” in our cameras that provided endless amusement to our English colleagues at One-Hour-Photo in London back in the day.
The section on the extra ‘S’ made me laugh out loud. It’s the reason why in Ireland we go to Lidls and Tescos (and Dunneses). And the reason people wonder why the sign outside Eason is missing the ‘S’ at the end.
It’s no exaggeration to say that the book has changed the way I listen and speak. I am now giving myself permission to use many Hiberno-English phrases that I would have frowned upon in the past.
A good example is “ye” which I’ve always resisted because I saw it as a culchie-ism. It turns out all forms of English have a plural version of “you” except for English-English. American English has “y’all”. Scottish and Australian have their own. And here in Ireland we have “ye” down the country, and “yiz” in Dublin. I’ve added it to my lexicon and now ye will all have to just put up with me.
Although written in a light,amusing, accessible style, (the author describes the book as a Christmas stocking filler) the content of the book is backed up with thoughtful linguistic basis with plenty of references to more academic sources if one was inclined to study the topic in more depth.
I strongly recommend this book, particularly for readers based in Ireland.
You will feel seen.
January 28, 2026
Well, I fair gallivanted through this book—and that’s saying something, 'cos I usually dally over my non-fiction choices. I loved the gentle, self-effacing humour and the witty observations on provincial and county rivalries.
With the current renaissance in our love for the Irish language, it’s just grand to find how many of our everyday words are derived from Irish—like the Waterford word for a snail, "shellakybooky," from seilide. It got me thinking about the cúpla focal initiative; I might even try substituting the far more descriptive Irish words for jellyfish (smugairle róin—literally "seal snot"!), sea anemone (cíoch farraige), and ladybird (bóín Dé) into my day-to-day speech!
Of course, as a wee Ulster lass, it fair minded me that there are a quare few gems missing from the section on my own particular county. But sure, what notion would I have to footer about with my own insertions? Overall, Colm—now be sure to pronounce his name the correct Hiberno-English way, "Coll-um," by inserting a vowel between those alphabet neighbours ‘l’ and ‘m’—has done a grand job. He even explained the terminology for that: epenthesis. (I had to go back and look that up, as my head was so full of rich vocabulary there was hardly any room left for boring linguistic terms!)
What resonated with me most was Colm’s effort to preserve the authentic voices of his parents and the people who shaped him. Language is a living, evolving thing, and while it's always changing, there’s something deeply moving about capturing those local rhythms before they fade.
It’s an easy, enjoyable read that you can dip in and out of, but you’ll definitely want to finish it, pass it on, and—hopefully—have it returned to grace your bookshelf for a re-read!
Oh aye, and what were some of my favourite words Colm picked out? Here are three wee gems I’ve hoked out that are sure to whet your whistle for a proper read: plámás, hallion, and smithereens.
4.5 stars
#readaroundireland
I’m assigning this book to County Cork (home of the author’s own Dripsey!) for my challenge. While Colm did a grand job, he might need to take a wee dander in the Mournes for the next edition so I can teach him about being thran in the clabber!
With the current renaissance in our love for the Irish language, it’s just grand to find how many of our everyday words are derived from Irish—like the Waterford word for a snail, "shellakybooky," from seilide. It got me thinking about the cúpla focal initiative; I might even try substituting the far more descriptive Irish words for jellyfish (smugairle róin—literally "seal snot"!), sea anemone (cíoch farraige), and ladybird (bóín Dé) into my day-to-day speech!
Of course, as a wee Ulster lass, it fair minded me that there are a quare few gems missing from the section on my own particular county. But sure, what notion would I have to footer about with my own insertions? Overall, Colm—now be sure to pronounce his name the correct Hiberno-English way, "Coll-um," by inserting a vowel between those alphabet neighbours ‘l’ and ‘m’—has done a grand job. He even explained the terminology for that: epenthesis. (I had to go back and look that up, as my head was so full of rich vocabulary there was hardly any room left for boring linguistic terms!)
What resonated with me most was Colm’s effort to preserve the authentic voices of his parents and the people who shaped him. Language is a living, evolving thing, and while it's always changing, there’s something deeply moving about capturing those local rhythms before they fade.
It’s an easy, enjoyable read that you can dip in and out of, but you’ll definitely want to finish it, pass it on, and—hopefully—have it returned to grace your bookshelf for a re-read!
Oh aye, and what were some of my favourite words Colm picked out? Here are three wee gems I’ve hoked out that are sure to whet your whistle for a proper read: plámás, hallion, and smithereens.
4.5 stars
#readaroundireland
I’m assigning this book to County Cork (home of the author’s own Dripsey!) for my challenge. While Colm did a grand job, he might need to take a wee dander in the Mournes for the next edition so I can teach him about being thran in the clabber!
January 28, 2026
Gas craic to read, yet spot on!
February 3, 2026
I could have quoted every single line in this book on here and still not have enthused enough about it. JUST READ IT. It's fantastic.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews