A Bunch o' Blarney

It never ceases to amaze us at the differences between American English and Irish English. Several differences came up today as I sat down and had coffee with a friend. It is simple little things such as the word "blue bonnet" for what I would have called a "horse fly" and another word (that I can't remember right now) for what we would call an "emcee"... These little differences really keep me smiling. I find it kinda funny, however, that somehow we (as Americans) have associated a few phrases with the Irish that they never ever say. These words & phrases are known as stage Irish (much like the stage Irish accent - (as seen on TV & in movies) that does not really exist) are very much a stereotype, and are thought to stem from playwrights and novelists of the early twentieth century who tried to capture the cadences of Irish English at the time.

A few of the blarney terms are:

B'jaysus - used to express shock or dismay

To be sure, to be sure - meaning: 'that's right, I agree'

Begorrah -meaning: 'Goodness me'

Top o' the morning to you - good morning (Yep - sorry to say it... but people don't use that one!)