Gallivanting With Words

'Not only is Gallivanting with Words a treasure trove of fascinating facts, it's also funny. Very funny.' JOHN CREEDON

'Colm explains and elevates our unique linguistic heritage in a book that will be treasured by generations to come; it's hilarious and full of love for our language and the people who use it.' DONAL RYAN

Gallivanting With Words is a captivating tour of the phrases, quirks and glorious oddities that make Hiberno-English so special. From Shakespearean echoes in 'WE'LL HAVE THE TAY' to old curses — 'MAY THE DEVIL MAKE A LADDER OF YOUR SPINE' — this is language to be celebrated and enjoyed.

Rambling from Cork to Connemara, you'll meet LANGERS, DOSES and GURRIERS; learn the difference between NOTHING TOO HECTIC and getting LOCKED; and find out why foxes caused SHENANIGANS. Along the way, you'll discover words from THEMUNS and USSUNS, hear the SLAGGING from the GAA sideline, and maybe even steal a SNEAKY SHIFT.

Warm, sharp and gloriously Irish, this book is both a love letter and a laugh-out-loud romp through the words that shape us — the ones we use, the ones we've lost and the ones that make us who we are.