Independent publisher O’Brien Press has made its first foray into app culture with the launch an Irish slang guide, aimed at explaining some of the more choice words and phrases that have failed to make it into the Oxford English Dictionary.
The iPaddy: Irish Slang Guide for the iPhone and iPod contains a collection of commonly used Irishisms with translations for those who don't know a bowsey from a gurrier.
The app, which is available from the Apple's App Store, is based on The Feckin' Book of Irish Slang that's great craic for cute hoors and bowsies, by Colin Murphy and Donal O'Dea, a title which has sold over 50,000 copies.
Managing director of O’Brien Press, Ivan O'Brien, said: "In a turbulent time for the world's book industry, and in the wake of the recent shock closure of Irish bookselling chain Hughes & Hughes with the loss of hundreds of jobs, it is vitally important that we all recognise the need to be able to adapt to a constantly changing marketplace .”
"We're delighted to announce the launch of iPaddy, as well as the growth of e-books as a real and important part of our annual publishing plan, and we look forward to bringing our customers more new and exciting developments in the months and years to come," he said.
O'Brien Press also recently started as e-books for the Kindle, including An Irish Voice, the memoir of Irish Voice founder Niall O'Dowd, which was published simultaneously as book and e-book earlier this month.