Animals

1. madra

   Dog

   Usage

   With the article: "an madra". The Irish wolfhound is "cú faoil"

2. cat

   Cat

   Usage

   With the article: "an cat". Spelled as in English but pronounced closer to "kot"

3. éan

   Bird

   Usage

   Keep the fada on the é. With the article: "an t-éan"; the plural is "éin"

4. iasc

   Fish

   Usage

   With the article: "an t-iasc". Fish and chips is "iasc agus sceallóga"

5. capall

   Horse

   Usage

   With the article: "an capall". Ireland is horse-breeding country; racing is "rásaíocht capall"

6. bó

   Cow

   Usage

   Keep the fada on the ó. With the article: "an bhó". Beef is a different word, "mairteoil"

7. muc

   Pig

   Usage

   With the article: "an mhuc"; pork is "muiceoil". Show it to decline pork for religious reasons

8. cearc

   Hen

   Usage

   A rooster is "coileach"; chicken as meat is "sicín"

9. lacha

   Duck

   Usage

   With the article: "an lacha". A fixture of park ponds

10. gabhar

    Goat

    Usage

    With the article: "an gabhar". At Puck Fair in Co. Kerry a wild goat is crowned king

11. caora

    Sheep

    Usage

    With the article: "an chaora"; the plural is "caoirigh". On country roads sheep wander onto the tarmac — drive carefully

12. fia

    Deer

    Usage

    With the article: "an fia". Herds live in Dublin's Phoenix Park and Killarney National Park — do not feed or approach them

13. sionnach

    Fox

    Usage

    With the article: "an sionnach"; "madra rua" (red dog) is just as common. They roam Dublin's suburbs

14. gráinneog

    Hedgehog

    Usage

    Keep the fada on the á; from "gráinne" (a grain, a prickle). Nocturnal, and a regular garden visitor

15. coinín

    Rabbit

    Usage

    Keep the fada on the í. The hare is a different word, "giorria" — Ireland has its own subspecies

16. luch

    Mouse

    Usage

    With the article: "an luch". The larger rat is a different word, "francach"

17. francach

    Rat

    Usage

    Lowercase it means a rat; capitalised, "Francach" means a French person — mind the spelling

18. ialtóg

    Bat

    Usage

    Keep the fada on the ó. Also called "sciathán leathair" (leather wing)

19. nathair

    Snake

    Usage

    Ireland has no native snakes at all. St Patrick gets the credit, but in fact none ever recolonised after the ice age — nothing to watch out for outdoors

20. laghairt

    Lizard

    Usage

    The common lizard is Ireland's only native reptile — seen on sunny rocks in the Burren and Wicklow. Harmless

21. frog

    Frog

    Usage

    With the article: "an frog". Common in bogs and ponds — Ireland's only native frog

22. rón

    Seal

    Usage

    Keep the fada on the ó. A common sight on the coast and in harbours — watch from a distance

23. faoileán

    Seagull

    Usage

    Keep the fada on the á. Large and bold in Dublin and Galway — they will snatch food from your hand, so don't eat as you walk

24. colúr

    Pigeon

    Usage

    Keep the fada on the ú. Everywhere in city squares

25. préachán

    Crow

    Usage

    Keep both fadas (é, á). Common on farmland and in towns

26. corr réisc

    Grey heron

    Usage

    Keep the fada on the é. Often seen standing alone by rivers and canals

27. míoltóg

    Midge

    Usage

    Keep both fadas (í, ó). Not mosquitoes but midges are the pest here — they swarm on still summer evenings by bogs and lakes. Bring repellent

28. seangán

    Ant

    Usage

    Keep the fada on the á. They arrive if food is left out

29. beach

    Bee

    Usage

    With the article: "an bheach"; honey is "mil". Seek care at once if you are allergic to stings

30. foiche

    Wasp

    Usage

    With the article: "an fhoiche". Drawn to outdoor drinks in late summer. A different word from the honeybee

31. damhán alla

    Spider

    Usage

    Keep the fada on the á. A two-word name. Irish house spiders are harmless

32. féileacán

    Butterfly

    Usage

    Keep both fadas (é, á). Everywhere in the summer meadows

33. cuileog

    Fly

    Usage

    With the article: "an chuileog"

34. portán

    Crab

    Usage

    Keep the fada on the á. Found in rock pools; crab claws are a west-coast speciality on menus

35. smugairle róin

    Jellyfish

    Usage

    Keep the fada on the ó. Literally "seal's spit". They wash up in summer; the lion's mane sting is painful

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