Giro na Gaeilge

The Giro d’Italia is one of the world’s most famous bike races and isn’t odd that people who don’t speak any Italian can still manage a “cúpla focal” Italiano when they have too?

Not to be outdone, the clever Gaelic gente at www.focal.ie have come up with a few key phrases in Irish to help you become trilingual as the cyclists speed through Ireland.

The “bonk bag” – I know! I know! – becomes “máilín soláistí” while the broom wagon – responsible for picking up the stragglers – becomes “carr na bhfágálach”. King of the mountains becomes “curadh na sléibhte” while “lantern rouge” becomes “Donncha Déanach”. A sprinter is a “rábálaí” – not to be confused with a raparee – while a climber is a “dreapadóir”.

All in all, there are enough key phrases so that you can recognise your troitheán from your diallait.

Bene agus go breá! Andiamo!

The cycling terms in the form of a poster can be downloaded from the notice section of focal.ie at http://www.focal.ie/Home.aspx