Planet Derry

Ireland has 32 counties and about 132 different accents, all of them unique and original. The quirkiest though must be the Derry accent.

I am a born and bred Derry girl and have always known that the accent is somewhat eccentric, with people from far away lands thinking I was from a different universe.

I spent last St Paddy's Day in New York. I was buzzing at being Irish while being surrounded by Yanks, telling their stories of Irish ancestors, relations and how their second cousin once had a pint with a man who had been in Ireland. The only problem was nobody believed I was Irish.

When I was in a pub a woman said to me, "So you came all the way from Scotland for St Paddy's Day."

"Naw am not Scottish am Irish," I answered.

"Yeah, the whole world is Irish on St Patrick's Day."

"But ye don't understand, am Irish every day."

I didn't take this too seriously and passed it off as that woman not knowing her arse from her elbow, but I was getting asked similar questions all day.

It is, perhaps, understandable that an American would be confused by such a bizarre accent.

In Dublin however, I thought that my accent would have been easily identifiable.

Again the Scottish question arose and my identity took a huge blow when a Dublin woman asked me what country I was from (and she wasn't trying to find out my religion. She really thought I was from some foreign land).

When I say things like "I must smooth my clothes" as opposed to iron my clothes, "a piece" as opposed to a slice of bread and "a dippy" as opposed to tea made in the cup, I get looked at as if I am "lightin' the pan".

I feel that I owe my Derry comrades the chance to be understood.

Here is a brief Derry-English glossary:

Yes: Hello

Alright hei mucker: How are you my friend

Give 'er dixie / Keep 'er lit: Remarks made to give someone support

Ya gack: You idiot/fool

Bangin', hoachin', leppin', and hummin': All words for something that is not very nice.

Get back: Stop that nonsense

Waine: Kid

Wan: One

If you ever hear anybody use any of the above words and say hei at the end of every sentence as if it is a vocal full stop, then don't ask what planet they are from. They are from planet Derry. Try not to hold it against them hei.

Teresa McGowan