In our final Immrám episode, The Pursuit of the Gilla Decair – An Unofficial Fenian Immrám, we noticed that Goll, Oscar and Fergus FinnBhéoil [“Fair-Lips”] came up with a familiar strategy. Just like the Children of Tuirenn, Fergus suggests that they sneak into the court of Athens disguised as poets, right down to the hair-do!
The natural flaw in this plan is “And what if they ask us to give them a poem?”. This is what brought this ad to mind. It could so easily be Brian, Iuchar and Iucharba, or indeed Fergus FinnBhéoil, Goll and Oscar.
Here’s what the present-day raiders actually say in the ad:
“An bhfuil cead agam dul amach go dtí an leithreas?”
“May I go out to the toilet?”
“Agus madra rua”
“And a fox”
“Is maith liom cáca milis.”
“I like cake.”
“Cáca milis.”
“Cake.”
“Agus Sharon Ní Bheoláin.”
“And Sharon Ní Bheoláin.” [Newsreader on Irish television.]
“Tá geansaí orm.”
“I am wearing a jumper.” [Literally; “There is a jumper on me.”] {“jumper” is Hiberno-English for “sweater” or “pullover”}
“Tá scamall sa spéir.”
“There is a cloud in the sky.”
“Tabhair dom an cáca milis.”
“Give me the cake.”
“Cáca milis.”
“Cake.”
…
“Ciúnas. Bóthair. Cailín. Bainne.”
“Silence. Road. Girl. Milk.”