The scribes of medieval Ireland, unlike Sinatra, never found their regrets too few to mention
Anrocomraircnicsiumairne is the title of a new artwork, now in the possession of the Royal Irish Academy, by Belfast-born Thomas Keyes
The word may never have featured in conversation since, except among scholars. And yet, meaning as it does “all the mistakes we have committed”, it would still be useful today as a one-word prophylactic against hubris.Imposter Boy – Frank McNally on another appearance of the Flann O’Brien who wasn’tPerhaps it’s about to make a comeback, because as of Tuesday it is the title of a new artwork, now in possession of the RIA, by Belfast-born Thomas Keyes.
And speaking of grianghrafadoireachta, one of the modern mistakes his piece warns against is excessive absorption in smartphones, as citizens record themselves and scroll the internet obsessively. Hence a piece of marginalia by a ninth-century monk. He was working on a copy of Priscian’s Latin grammar but added the Irish word latheirt, meaning “excessive drunkenness” or “hangover” at the top of a page, in ogham.
The language’s supposed superiority extended to ogham, which the Auraicept included alongside the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin alphabets. It was claimed that ogham was the best and most exact of the quartet, because it was “invented last”.
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