Choosing an Irish Dictionary (Advanced)
I’ve already covered Irish dictionaries for beginners.
Anois, your Foclóir Scoile doesn’t feel like enough anymore. Perhaps you’ve studied Irish for a long time, or you’re a fluent Gaeilgeoir.
It’s time to get a serious Irish dicitonary. Or, better yet, two dictionaries!
Foclóir Gaeilge Béarla by Ó Dónaill
This one-directional Irish->English dictionary is very popular among advanced learners and writers of Irish the Irish language. The entries are far more complete than those in Foclóir Póca, and usually include several examples of common phrases and idioms using the word in question. The entry for ceann, for example, is two and one-half pages long.
Another feature of this dictionary is that entries for nouns and adjectives list the plural and genitive forms; no need to refer to the front to check how m1 nouns decline, as required with other dictionaries. Similarly, entries for verbs list the verbal noun and verbal adjective forms. The font is very clear, and the fadas are easy to spot. Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla is published by An Gúm in both paperback and hardback. (see Wikipedia).
Published by An Gúm, ISBN 1857910370.
English-Irish Dictionary by Tomás de Bhaldraithe
Perhaps not as essential as Foclóir Gaeilge Béarla, this Irish dictionary is still very detailed in its entries, and very useful for advanced learners of the Irish language. It includes examples that are very helpful to the learner. If your budget can afford it, but now!
Published by An Gúm, ISBN 1857910354
