12 Feb 00 - 02:24 PM (#177217) Subject: Belfast:Whats 'faar down' mean? From: GUEST,Boston Bill 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 |
12 Feb 00 - 05:41 PM (#177285) Subject: RE: Belfast: What does 'faar down' mean? From: wysiwyg Bill, don't give up, someone who knows will see this eventually. Keep coming back! |
12 Feb 00 - 06:31 PM (#177317) Subject: RE: Belfast: What does 'faar down' mean? From: John Moulden 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 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. |
12 Feb 00 - 10:17 PM (#177428) Subject: RE: Belfast: What does 'faar down' mean? From: alison 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 |
13 Feb 00 - 04:14 AM (#177513) Subject: RE: Belfast: What does 'faar down' mean? From: John Moulden 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. |
14 Feb 00 - 12:13 AM (#177936) Subject: RE: Belfast: What does 'faar down' mean? From: alison 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 |
14 Feb 00 - 12:21 AM (#177938) Subject: RE: Belfast: What does 'faar down' mean? From: Brendy Well, I suppose they would have to have a wee want in order to be a far down (Feár Donn, Dhún srl.), perhaps? |
09 Jul 12 - 08:31 AM (#3373915) Subject: RE: Belfast: What does 'faar down' mean? From: GUEST 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. |