Belfast: What does 'faar down' mean?

Subject: Belfast:Whats 'faar down' mean?
From: GUEST,Boston Bill
Date: 12 Feb 00 - 02:24 PM

My aunt is now in here 70's. She recalls that her dad when angry with her would say "you are a 'faar down' or 'fhar down'". He was Belfast born. Any help/guess appreciated. Thanks and Slan Bill Kelleher Brighton, MA

Subject: RE: Belfast: What does 'faar down' mean?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Feb 00 - 05:41 PM

Bill, don't give up, someone who knows will see this eventually. Keep coming back!

Subject: RE: Belfast: What does 'faar down' mean?
From: John Moulden
Date: 12 Feb 00 - 06:31 PM

My "Concise Ulster Dictionary" (Oxford University Press, 1996) says that "far downer, also wee far downer" someone from the far north ..." - not the north of Canada or Alaska but meaning someone, like myself, from north Antrim or north Derry or Donegal.

The Draperstown Co Londonderry singer, Mary Murphy sang a song called the Wee Far Down when the BBC recorded her in the fifties.

Gimme whisky ou[t[a the bottle said the wee far down
And I'll throw it in me throttle [throat] said the wee far down
Gimme a glass o beer, me spirits for to cheer
I'm the best man here, said the wee far down

I can't remember it all and can't at present find the transcription I made but it'll serve as an example and the thread's not about this song anyway.

Subject: RE: Belfast: What does 'faar down' mean?
From: alison
Date: 12 Feb 00 - 10:17 PM

I'm a Belfast girl and I have no idea about the saying....

I checked out my "some Handlin' the dialect heritage of North Ulster" book.... nothing in it either.... great little booklet put together by the kids of Ballyrashane Primary School (did you ever see it John?... good fun.... it helped me to understand what the people from Ballymoney were telling me when they said that their "feet were starving")

Is the concise Ulster Dictionary available worldwide???

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Belfast: What does 'faar down' mean?
From: John Moulden
Date: 13 Feb 00 - 04:14 AM

Oxford University Press should be easily available.

A Concise Ulster Dictionary (ed) C I Macafee Oxford University Press, Oxford, New York, Athens, Auckland, Bangkok, Bombay, Calcutta, Cape Town, Dar es Salaam, Delhi, Florence, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Karachi, Kuala Lumpur, Madras, Madrid, Melbourne, Mexico City, Nairobi, Paris, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo, Toronto and Associated Companies in Berlin, Ibadan, 1996

ISBN 0-19-863132-4 hardback ISBN 0-19-860059-3 paperback

The paperback was priced at £10 sterling

Are you still in Belfast, Alison? I moved from Dundonald to Portrush in 1977 so I'm not really a far down. I know about Some Handlin' - Rae MacIntyre who oversaw its production (she was Principal of the school at Ballyrashane) is an acquaintance. Even if you don't come form north Antrim, everybody knows everybody else.

Subject: RE: Belfast: What does 'faar down' mean?
From: alison
Date: 14 Feb 00 - 12:13 AM

John, I lived at Gilnahirk (Belfast) for 24 years... then moved to Castlerock for 3..... (worked in Coleraine Hospital with a lot lovely people with a language all their own *grin*)... I'm in Sydney now... have been for 8 years.

I'm going home for a visit in August... thanks for the info

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Belfast: What does 'faar down' mean?
From: Brendy
Date: 14 Feb 00 - 12:21 AM

Well, I suppose they would have to have a wee want in order to be a far down (Feár Donn, Dhún srl.), perhaps?

Subject: RE: Belfast: What does 'faar down' mean?
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Jul 12 - 08:31 AM

My memories (very hazy) of the song:

Give me whiskey out of the bottle said the Wee Far Down
For my throat's in the throttle said the Wee Far Down
Give me a glass of beer
Me spirits for to cheer
I'm the best man here said the Wee Far Down

Give me whiskey out of the bottle said the Wee Far Down
For my throat's in the throttle said the Wee Far Down
Give me a glass of sherry
My spirits o keep merry
For I come from County Derry said the Wee Far Down

There is another verse about a court appearance.