From hooligan to smithereens, there are many common words in the English language that you probably didn’t realise came from Irish.
The Irish language, sometimes referred to as gaeilge, was the population’s first language up until the 18th century when there was a shift to English. However, the Irish language is still very popular in the country. According to the most recent census, 39.8% of respondents in the Republic and 10.65% of the respondents in the north claimed they could speak the language.The language’s influence on modern English is evident and is responsible for many words we use every day.Hooligan - meaning someone who takes part in rowdy behaviour - is said to have come from the Irish family name O hUallachain, which was anglicised as O'Houlihan.
A popular British music hall song of the 1890s referenced the fictional Irish fighting family of O hUallachain, who were known for their bad social behaviour.The word Tory, commonly used to refer to a member of the UK Conservative Party, comes from the Irish Gaelic word ‘toraidhe’ meaning outlaw or robber. The phrase, which was meant as an insult, was popular in the 17th century.Whiskey is the English interpretation of an old Irish name for the drink - uisce beatha which means water of life.
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