Chapter 1 | The Article

1.1 General

1.1.1

There is one article in the Irish language — the definite article. The subject of the article is called the definite noun. The article has two forms: an and na. The article is placed before the noun, e.g., an baile (EN: the town); an mhír (EN: the item); na caoirigh (EN: the sheep); teach na cúirte (EN: the court house); or before whatever word is put before the noun to qualify it, e.g., an uile dhuine (EN: everyone); scéal mhadra na n‑ocht gcos (EN: story of the eight-legged dog); tús na chéad seachtaine (EN: beginning of the first week). It is possible to use the article in place of possessive adjectives, e.g., Tá an croí ag cur air (EN: His heart is troubling him); Bhí an ghrian ag baint na súl asam (EN: The sun was taking my eyes from me).

1.1.2

The article is written with a small letter in the middle of sentences, e.g., Nach raibh tú ag an Oireachtas i mbliana? (EN: Were you at the Oireachtas this year?); Bhí aithne mhaith agam ar an Seabhac (EN: I knew Seabhac well); except in certain contexts such as publication titles e.g., Cé a scríobh An tOileánach? (EN: Who wrote An tOileánach?)

1.1.3

If a title containing an article (see 1.1.5 (a), (b) and (c)) is written on its own, for example on a public notice or on a cover sheet, the article is always included and is capitalized, e.g., An Ghníomhaireacht um Thacaíocht Teaghlaigh (EN: The Agency for Family Support); Na Coimisinéirí Ioncaim (EN: The Revenue Commissioners); An Ceoláras Náisiúnta (EN: The National Conservatory).

1.1.4

A hyphen is placed between the initial letter t and a vowel, except when the vowel is capitalized, e.g., an t‑ospidéal, an tAlbanach. A hyphen is not placed between the initial letter t and s, e.g., an tsaoirse; an tSionainn; tús an tsaoil; nor between the initial letter h and a vowel, e.g., na hainmneacha; lár na habairte; stair na hUachtaránachta.

1.1.5

The article is used in the following contexts.

Official Titles e.g., an tAire Airgeadais, an Príomh-Oifigeach Feidhmiúcháin, an Taoiseach, Ard-Rúnaí na Náisiún Aontaithe.

Beidh an tAire Airgeadais ag freastal ar an gcruinniú.

The Minister for Finance will attend the meeting.

Cá bhfuil an Príomh-Oifigeach Feidhmiúcháin?

Where is the Chief Executive Officer?

Tá an Taoiseach ag labhairt leis na daltaí.

The Taoiseach is speaking with the students.

An é sin Ard-Rúnaí na Náisiún Aontaithe?

Is that the Secretary General of the United Nations?

Titles of Government Departments and State Companies e.g., an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna, an Oifig um Rialú Tobac, Feidhmeannacht na Seirbhíse Sláinte, an Phríomh-Oifig Staidrimh.

Is san fhoirgneamh sin thall atá an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna.

This building is opposite the Department of Education and Skills.

Chuaigh Seán go dtí an Oifig um Rialú Tobac.

Sean went to the Office of Tobacco Control.

Tá Feidhmeannacht na Seirbhíse Sláinte an-ghnóthach.

The Health Service Executive is very busy.

Seo an Phríomh-Oifig Staidrimh.

This is the Central Statistics Office.

Titles of people before a proper noun, e.g., an tAthair Peadar Ua Laoghaire, an Captaen Ó Murchú, an tUachtarán Mhic Róibín, an Teachta de Barra (EN: the Reprsentative of de Barra), an Múinteoir Ailbhe, an Pápa Eoin Pól II (EN: Pope John Paul II), an Rí Anraí VIII (EN: King Henry VIII).

Ba é an tAthair Peadar Ua Laoghaire a scríobh an dráma An Sprid.

Father Peadar Ua Laoghaire wrote the play An Sprid.

Labhair an Captaen Ó Murchú leis na himreoirí.

Captain Ó Murchú spoke to the players.

Bhí an tUachtarán Mhic Róibín le feiceáil sa ghrianghraf.

President Mhic Róibín was to be seen in the photograph.

Beidh an Dochtúir de Barra ar saoire ar feadh seachtaine.

Doctor de Barra will be on holiday for the week.

Tá an Múinteoir Ailbhe i bhfeighil ar rang a sé i mbliana.

Teacher Ailbhe is in charge of sixth class this year.

Is í an Bhanríon Elsa a Dó atá sa scannán.

It is Queen Elsa II in the film.

Festivals, e.g., an Nollaig, an Cháisc, an Carghas.

Tá an Nollaig ag teannadh linn.

Christmas is approaching us.

Is i mí an Mhárta a bheid an Cháisc i mbliana.

Easter will be in March this year.

Rinne mé an Carghas ar an ól.

I gave up drinking for Lent.

Note that the article is not used in certain adverbial forms, e.g., faoi Cháisc, um Nollaig, faoi Bhealtaine.

Days of the week, e.g., an Luan, an Mháirt, an Chéadaoin.

Is é an Luan an lá is ansa liom.

Monday is my favorite day.

Téim ag snámh ar an Máirt.

I go swimming on Tuesdays.

Inniu an Chéadaoin.

Today is a Wednesday.

Note that the adverb Dé is used in place of the article when referring to a particular day, e.g., Bhí mé ag caint leis Dé Céadaoin seo caite (EN: I was talking to him last Wednesday).

If a preposition is used before certain days, a compound is formed between the article and the preposition, e.g., Ní mór na hiarratais a bheith faighte foin Aoine, an 16 Bealtaine (EN: The applications must be received by Friday, 16 May).

Months and years

The article is used for the months Márta (March), Bealtaine (May), Meitheamh (June), Samhain (November) and Nollaig (December). The article is not used for the other months except for the calqued form san Aibreán (From: in April).
TL Note: (calqued version/form appears to be the intended meaning here for leagan calctha, not found in FGB. See also 1.3.2 for another instance.)

Is minic a bhíonn mí Eanáir níos fuaire ná mí na Nollag.

Often January is colder than December.

Tá an Cháisc i mí an Mhárta seachas mí Aibreáin i mbliana.

Easter is in March rather than April this year.

Dates

The article should be used when referring to a date in a sentence.

Ba chóir é a dhéanamh tráth nach déanaí ná an 30 Meán Fómhair gach bliain.

I should be done no later than 30 September every year.

Beidh an chóisir ar síúl ar an 12 Aibreán.

The party will be on 12 April.

Baineann na ráitis airgeadais leis an mbliain dar chríoch an 31 Nollaig 2014.

The financial reports are for the year ended 31 December 2014.

Pósfaidh siad an 26 Feabhra.

They will marry on 26 February.

Ní ghlacfar le haon iarratas a gheofar tar éis an 7 Márta 2016.

No applications will be accepted after 7 March 2016.

When the date is by itself — in a letterhead, or as in the date on an invoice or an Act etc. — the article is omitted, e.g., 26 Feabhra 2014.

Names of towns, mountains and rivers

Some cities and towns, e.g., an Aithin (EN: Athens), na Cealla Beaga (EN: Kells), na Gleannta (EN: the Glens), an tSnaidhm (EN: Snaidhm), an Spidéal (EN: Spiddal).
Certain mountains and cities, e.g., na hAindéis (EN: the Andes), na hAlpa (EN: the Alps), an Bhograch (EN: the Bograch), an Chearc (EN: the Chearc), na Comaraigh (EN: the Comaraigh), an Earagail (EN: the Erigail), na Himiléithe (EN: the Himalayas), an Mhucais (EN: the Muckish).

Most rivers e.g., an Bhóinn (EN: the Boyne), an Danóib (EN: the Danube), an Life (EN: the Liffey), an Phó (EN: the Po), an Réin (EN: the Rhine), an Róin (EN: the Rhone), an tSéin (EN: the Seine), an tSionainn (EN: the Shannon), an Tibir (EN: the Tiber).

Rinne mé an Mhucais a shiúl inné.

I walked the Muckish yesterday.

Ar bhuaigh an Spidéal an cluiche?

Did Spiddal win the game?

Bhí an tSionainn le feiceáil ón eitleán.

The Shannon can be seen from the airplane.

Names of countries and regions
1. The article accompanies the names of countries and regions if the noun is feminine and:
  if it ends with a slender consonant e.g., an Airgintín (EN: Argentina), an Albáin (EN: Albania), an Bhaváir (EN: Bavaria), an Chatalóin (EN: Catalonia), an Eastóin (EN: Estonia), an Eoraip (EN: Europe), an Fhrainc (EN: France), an Ghearmáin (EN: Germany), an Mhacadóin (EN: Macedonia), an Namaib (EN: Namibia), an Phacastáin (EN: Pakistan), an tSeineagáil (EN: Senegal), an Spáinn (EN: Spain), an tSúdáin (EN: Sudan);
  
  if it ends with -ia e.g., an India (EN: India), an Laitvia (EN: Latvia), an tSiria (EN: Syria);
  
  if it ends with -e, -é e.g., an Chóiré (EN: Korea), an Chrimé (EN: Crimea), an Ghuine (EN: Guinea), an tSile (EN: Chile).
  Some names of countries and regions end with a slender consonant but are not accompanied by the article, e.g., Bairéin (EN: Bahrain), Beinin (EN: Benin), Cuáit (EN: Kuwait), Éimin (EN: Egypt), Guadalúip (EN: Guadeloupe), Lichtinstéin (EN: Liechtenstein), Mósaimbíc (EN: Mozambique), or end with -í in the singular but are not accompanied by the article e.g. Geansaí (EN: Jersey), Geirsí (EN: Guernsey), Háítí (EN: Haiti), Haváí (EN: Hawaii), Mailí (EN: Mali), Taihítí (EN: Tahiti). The article is not used except for the genitive for Albain (EN: Scotland), Éire (EN: Ireland) (see 3.1.4).
  
  Is tír álainn í an Fhrainc.
  
  France is a beautiful country.
  
  Luaitear Mósaimbíc sa leabhar.
  
  Mozambique is mentioned in the book.
2. The article does not accompany the names of countries and regions if the noun is masculine and:
  if it ends with a broad consonant, e.g., Barbadós (EN: Barbados), Eacuadór (EN: Ecuador), Guam (EN: Guam), Hondúras (EN: Honduras), Natal (EN: Natal), Óman (EN: Oman), Sead (EN: Seychelles), Siam (EN: Siam), Suranam (EN: Suriname);
  
  if it ends with -eo, -ó, e.g., Boirneo (EN: Borneo), Maracó (EN: Morocco), Meicsiceo (EN: Mexico), Monacó (EN: Monaco), Samó (EN: Samoa) (exception: an Congó (EN: the Congo));
  
  if it ends with -a, -á, -iú, -ua, e.g., Alasca (EN: Alaska), Ceanada (EN: Canada), Cúba (EN: Cuba), Gána (EN: Ghana), Meiriceá (EN: America), Nicearagua (EN: Nicaragua), Panama (EN: Panama), Papua (EN: Papua), Paragua (EN: Paraguay), Peiriú (EN: Peru), Sasana (EN: England);
  
  if it ends with -ael, e.g., Iosrael (EN: Israel).
3. The article accompanies the names of countries and regions that are nouns in the plural, e.g., na hAsóir (EN: the Azores), na Bahámaí (EN: the Bahamas), na Garbhchríocha (EN: the Highlands), na Scigirí (EN: the Shetland Islands).
  
  I Muir Chairib atá na Bahámaí.
  
  The Bahamas are in the Caribbean.
  
  Rinneadh an scannán a thaifeadadh sna Garbhchríocha.
  
  The film was recorded in the Highlands.

Prayers and certain battle cries, e.g., an Choróin Mhuire, an Ghlóir, an Dord Fiann.

Dúradh an Ghlóir i lár an Aifrinn.

Glory was said in the middle of the Mass.

Ní minic a chloistear an Dord Fiann.

The Dord Fiann is not often heard.

Dúirt sé an Choróin Mhuire os ard.

He said the rosary loudly.

Distributive use

The article is used to express a rate when the meaning each individual or per is intended.

Dhíol sé na leabhair ar euro an ceann.

He sells the books for one Euro each.

Eagraítear comóradh uair sa bhliain.

An anniversary is organized once per year.

Bhí mála an duine ag na páistí scoile.

Every schoolchild had a bag.

The noun has an abstract or conceptual meaning

Nuair a bhíonn an t‑ól istigh, bíonn an chiall amuigh.

When the drink is in, sense is out.

Ní maith í an fhearg.

Anger is not good.

Tugadh isteach an colscaradh in Éirinn roinnt blianta ó shin.

Divorce was introduced in Ireland some years ago.

Is rud nua í an taiscéalaíocht sa spás.

Space exploration is a new thing.

Ní féidir taisteal san am.

It is not possible to travel through time.

Inseoidh an aimsir.

The weather will tell.

Is maith an t‑anlann an t‑ocras.

Hunger is the best sauce.

Note that the article is not used in certain sayings, e.g., Tá ciall cheannaith aige (EN: He has bought sense); or when the noun does not have a general meaning, e.g., Bhí ocras orm (EN: I was hungry); Tá siad i ngrá (EN: They are in love).

Certain Illnesses, e.g., an ailse (EN: cancer), an déideadh (EN: smallpox), an titimeas (EN: epilepsy), an bhruitíneach (EN: measles).

Bhí an bhruitíneach fairsing in Éirinn go dtí na 1960idí.

Measles was widespread in Ireland until the 1960s.

An bhfuil leigheas ar an titimeas?

Is there a cure for epilepsy?

Languages, e.g., an Ghaeilge (EN: Irish), an Ghearmáinis (EN: German), an Béarla (EN: English).

Is í an Ghaeilge teanga ár sinsear.

Irish is the language of our ancestors.

Labhraítear an Ghearmáinis san Ostair.

German is spoken in Austria.

Bhí an Béarla go maith aici.

She had good English.

Note that the article is omitted when the general meaning is not intended, e.g., Tá Fraincis aici (EN: She speaks French); Cuir i nGaeilge é (EN: Put it in Irish); rang Iodáilise (EN: Italian class).

The Cases

There are five cases in the Irish language: the nominative case, the accusative case, the dative case, the genitive case and the vocative case (see 2.1.2). In the following tables, changes applied to the article and the first letter of the noun are shown based on four items — gender, case, number and the first letter of the noun. Also see Chapter 10 for additional information about initial mutations.

1.2 The Nominative Case and the Singular Accusative Case

The noun form is the same for the nominative case and the singular accusative case. See the table below which shows the effect of the article on the noun in those cases.

Table 1A The Nominative Case and the Singular Accusative Case

Masculine
Initial Letter of the Noun		Form of the Article	Effect on the Initial Letter	Examples
Consonant	every consonant	an	no change	an cnoc an diabhal an fear an saol an Seapánach an teach
Vowel	every vowel	an	t in front	an t‑íochtar an t‑uisce an t‑alt an tAcht an tUltach

Feminine
Initial Letter of the Noun		Form of the Article	Effect on the Initial Letter	Examples
Consonant	lenitable consonants*, (other than d, t or s)	an	lenition	an fhuinneog an chaibidil
	d or t	an	no change	an deoch an teanga
	s (other than sc-, sf-, sm-, sp-, st-, sv-)	an	t in front	an tsráid an tSeapáin
Vowel	every vowel	an	no change	an áit an Astráil an Iodáil an obair

*These are the lenitable consonants: b, c, d, f, g, m, p, s and t

1.3 The Dative Singular Case

1.3.1

The dative case is given to the case following the preposition a (EN: various meanings), ag (EN: at), ar (EN: on), as (EN: from), chuig (EN: towards), dar (EN: by (asservation)), de (EN: various meanings), do (EN: various meanings), faoi (EN: under), fara (EN: beyond), go (EN: to (a place)), i (EN: in), ionsar (EN: towards), le (EN: with), ó (EN: from), roimh (EN: before), trí (EN: through) and um (EN: around). Nouns that follow the article in the dative singular case are dealt with as laid out in the following tables.

1.3.2

The nominative case follows the words ach (EN: but), amhail (EN: like), gan (EN: without), go dtí (EN: until), idir (EN: between), mar (EN: as), murach (EN: except), ná (EN: nor) and seachas (EN: except) and the article, e.g., gan an t‑uisce (EN: without the water); idir an t‑am sin agus an t‑am seo (EN: between that time and this time); mar an t‑aistriúchán (EN: like the translation). The dative case is used in the calqued form mar an gcéanna (EN: In the same way) (From: like the same).

1.3.3

The general rules of the dative are applied to forms of this type: preposition + noun + a + verbal noun, e.g., leis an ngnó a dhéanamh (EN: with doing the business); as an árasán a dhíol (EN: from selling the apartment).

1.3.4

For prepositions de, do, faoi, i and ó, the preposition and the singular article are composed as shown below.

de + an

→

den

do + an

→

don

faoi + an

→

faoin

i + an

→

sa, san

ó + an

→

ón

1.3.5

The prepositions in the table below have specific forms when they precede the singular article.

fara + an

→

fairis an

le + an

→

leis an

trí + an

→

tríd an

1.4 The Dative Singular Case — The Core System

1.4.1

As for masculine and feminine nouns starting with a consonant (other than d, t and s), lenition is applied to them following den, don, sa/san and eclipsis in every other context, as shown in the table below.

**Table 1B** The Dative Singular Case — The Core System — Nouns starting with a Consonant other than d, t and s
The Core System — Nouns starting with a Consonant other than d, t and s
Masculine	Feminine
ag an bhfear maith	ag an gcuideachta bheag
ar an mbosca dearg	ar an mbean shaibhir
as an ngleann mór	as an bpáirc chéanna
chuig an gCoimisinéir coinsiasach	chuig an mbean ghairmiúil
den chrann caol	den bhean fhlaithiúil
don fhear trom	don chuideachta ghnóthach
fairis an ngarda béasach	fairis an mbean chairdiúil
faoin bhfógra práinneach	faoin ngrian bhreá
sa bhosca buí sa fhraoch bán BUT where f precedes a vowel: san fhéar fliuch	sa chomhairle shóisialta sa fhrithréabhlóid fhíochmhar BUT where f precedes a vowel: san fharraige ghlan
leis an bhfasach cruinn	leis an mbáisteach throm
ón gcaisleán fuar	ón gcathair mhór
roimh an gcruinniú tábhachtach	roimh an mbainis bheag
thar an gcnoc bán	thar an bhfarraige chiúin
tríd an ngairdín breá	tríd an bhfuinneog ghorm
um an mBille fada	um an ngníomhaireacht reachtúil

1.4.2

No change is done to masculine nouns starting with s in the dative case. A t precedes an s in feminine nouns (other than when the noun starts with sc-, sf-, sm-, sp-, st- or sv- which are left bare) as shown in the table below.

**Table 1C** The Dative Singular Case — The Core System — Nouns Starting with s
The Core System — Nouns Starting with s
Masculine	Feminine
No change	t is put before the s, other than for sc-, sf-, sm-, sp-, st- or sv-
ag an Seapánach cliste	ag an tseanmháthair bhocht
ar an suíochán fliuch	ar an tsráid ghlan
as an sailéad blasta	as an tsaoire bhliantúil
chuig an Seanadóir nuacheaptha	chuig an tsatailít mhór
den saighdiúir sásúil	den tslándáil shóisialach
don Seanad nua	don tsaoirse cheart
fairis an saineolaí lách	fairis an tseanbhean shaibhir
faoin sonrasc déanach	faoin tslí dhíreach
sa soitheach gorm	sa tseacláid mhilis
leis an salann bán	leis an tslat fhada
ón suirbhé pearsanta	ón scoil bheag
roimh an samhradh fada	roimh an tseachtain mhór
thar an seol mór	thar an tSionainn fhada
tríd an sorcas mór	tríd an tseift chliste
um an sainchomhairleoir cruinn	um an tseirbhís mhaith

1.4.3

No change is made to masculine nouns or feminine nouns starting with a vowel.

**Table 1D** The Dative Singular Case — The Core System — Nouns Starting with Vowels
The Core System — Nouns Starting with Vowels
Masculine	Feminine
ag an Albanach ciallmhar	ag an aeráid ghaofar
ar an eitleán dubh	ar an olann bhán
as an uisce glan	as an iris cháiliúil
chuig an Aire ilteangach	chuig an Ostair shléibhtiúil
den alt fada	den uimhir chruinn
don údarás céanna	don obair chrua
fairis an oifigeach múinte	fairis an ógbhean chliste

1.4.4

No change is made to masculine nouns or feminine nouns starting with d and t.

**Table 1E** The Dative Singular Case — The Core System — Nouns Starting with d and t
The Core System — Nouns Starting with d and t
Masculine	Feminine
faoin dréimire bhriste	faoin deacracht bhreise
sa theas mór	sa deoch fhuar
leis an duine ciúin	leis an taithí mhaith
ón deartháir cineálta	ón teanga líofa
roimh an tarbh fiáin	roimh an deighilt mhór
thar an teach gorm	thar an diallait nua
tríd an talamh crua	tríd an drochaimsir ghránna
um an dlí coiriúil	um an tagairt chuí

N.B.

In addition to the Core System given in this chapter, the following choices are allowed:

eclipsis of the noun (instead of lenition) following den and don, e.g., den gcrann, don bhfear; or
eclipsis of the noun (instead of lenition) following sa, e.g., sa bpáirc, sa gcarr.

1.5 The Genitive Singular Case

1.5.1

It is customary to use the genitive form when the noun is governed by the following things —

other nouns:

Cár fhág tú eochair an chairr?

Where did you leave the car keys?

Tá muintir na háite sásta le foireann na leabharlainne.

The local people are happy with the library staff.

verbal nouns:

Is maith leis na gasúir a bheith ag réiteach an dinnéir.

The youngsters like to be preparing dinner.

Is í Síle atá ag déanamh na hArdteiste i mbliana.

It is Síle who is doing the Leaving Certificate this year.

compound prepositions, e.g., faoi chomhair (EN: under the guidance of), i gcás (EN: in case of), le haghaidh (EN: for the purpose of):

Bíonn an cat ina shuí ansin os comhair na tine gach uile oíche.

The cat sits in front of the fire every night.

Ba iad na hailtirí a bhí i mbun an scrúdaithe.

The architects were conducting the examination.

one of the words cois (EN: beside), dála (EN: like), fearacht (EN: in the manner of), timpeall (EN: around), trasna (EN: across):

Chuala mé go ndeachaigh sibh ar thuras timpeall an domhain.

I heard that you went on a journey around the world.

Shiúlamar cois na habhann.

We walked beside the river.
the preposition chun:

Tá an grúpa uile ag dul chun na Spáinne i mí Iúil.

The whole group is going to Spain in July.

Rinne siad achomharc chun na cúirte.

They made an appeal to the court.

See 3.3 for contexts where the nominative form is used instead of the genitive.

1.5.2

In the table below, the effect of the article on the noun in the genitive singular case is shown.

Table 1F The Genitive Singular Case

Masculine
Initial Letter of the Noun		Form of the Article	Effect on the Initial Letter	Examples
Consonant	lenitable consonants*, (other than d, t or s)	an	lenition	barr an chnoic hata an fhir
	d or t	an	no change	chun an diabhail doras an tí
	s (other than sc-, sf-, sm-, sp-, st-, sv-)	an	t in front	tús an tsaoil pas an tSeapánaigh
Vowel	every vowel	an	no change	de réir an ailt faoi réir an Achta pas an Albanaigh

Feminine
Initial Letter of the Noun		Form of the Article	Effect on the Initial Letter	Examples
Consonant	every consonant	na	no change	leac na fuinneoige deireadh na caibidle bun na sráide muintir na Téalainne
Vowel	every vowel	na	h in front	timpeall na háite foireann na hÍsiltíre

*These are the lenitable consonants: b, c, d, f, g, m, p, s and t

1.6 The Plural

The article’s plural form is na. The article’s form is the same in both genders and in all cases of the plural.

1.6.1 The Nominative Plural Case and the Accusative Plural Case

In the table below, the effect of the article on the noun in the nominative plural case and in the accusative plural case is shown.

**Table 1G** The Nominative Plural Case and the Accusative Plural Case
Masculine and Feminine
Initial Letter of the Noun	Form of the Article	Effect on the Initial Letter	Examples
Consonant	na	no change	na capaill ghlasa na cnoic arda na fuinneoga móra na Seapánaigh na sráideanna
Vowel	na	h in front	na hAchtanna tábhachtacha na háiteanna na hAlbanaigh bhródúla na hÉireannaigh na híomhánna

1.6.2 The Dative Plural Case

The dative plural case follows the prepositions a, ag, ar, as, chuig, dar, de, do, faoi, fara, go, i, ionsar, le, ó, roimh, trí and um. The preposition i is composed with the article in the plural: i + na = sna. There is a separate form for fara and le before the article in the plural: fara, fairis; le, leis. Shown in the table below is the effect of the article on the noun in the dative plural case.

**Table 1H** The Dative Plural Case
Masculine and Feminine
Initial Letter of the Noun	Form of the Article	Effect on the Initial Letter	Examples
Consonant	na	no change	ag na fir mhóra ar na mná cliste as na seirbhísí poiblí chuig na mic léinn ghlóracha de na crainn do na Teachtaí faoi na daoine fairis na gardaí leis na fasaigh ó na múinteoirí roimh na cait sna boscaí thar na farraigí trí na gairdíní um na coillte
Vowel	na	h in front	ag na hiníonacha fásta ar na hoileáin ghaofara as na hirisí acadúla chuig na hoifigigh dheasa de na huimhreacha do na hoibreacha faoi na heachtraí fairis na hógmhná leis na heochracha ó na hÉireannaigh roimh na héin sna heitleáin thar na háiteanna trí na haistriúcháin um na hAchtanna

1.6.3 The Genitive Plural Case

In the table below, the effect of the article on the noun in the genitive plural case is shown.

**Table 1I** The Genitive Plural Case
Masculine and Feminine
Initial Letter of the Noun	Form of the Article	Effect on the Initial Letter	Examples
Eclipsable consonants*	na	eclipsis	trasna na gcnoc íseal leaca na bhfuinneog i measc na ndaoine
Vowel	na	eclipsis	líon na n‑áiteanna breátha costas na n‑oibreacha líon na nAlbanach

*These are the eclipsable consonants: b, c, d, f, g, p and t

1.7 The Dative Singular Case — The Lenition System

1.7.1

In the dative plural case only, there are other choices given for the Lenition System. It is recommended to adhere to one system only — the Core System or the Lenition System — and not to mix the systems.

1.7.2

The rules regarding the dative plural case in the Core System and in the Lenition System are the same (See 1.6.2).

1.7.3

In the Lenition system, nouns starting with the a consonant are lenited (other than d, t and s) as well as the adjectives attached to them. See the table below.

**Table 1J** The Dative Singular Case — The Lenition System —
Nouns starting with a consonant other than d, t, and s
The Lenition System — Nouns starting with a consonant other than d, t, and s
Masculine	Feminine
ag an fhear mhaith	ag an chuideachta bheag
ar an bhosca dhearg	ar an bhean shaibhir
as an ghleann mhór	as an pháirc chéanna
chuig an Choimisinéir choinsiasach	chuig an bhean ghairmiúil
den chrann chaol	den bhean fhlaithiúil
don fhear throm	don chuideachta ghnóthach
fairis an gharda bhéasach	fairis an bhean chairdiúil
faoin fhógra phráinneach	faoin ghrian bhreá
sa bhosca bhuí sa fhraoch bhán BUT where f precedes a vowel: san fhéar fhliuch	sa chomhairle shóisialta sa fhrithréabhlóid fhíochmhar BUT where f precedes a vowel: san fharraige ghlan
leis an fhasach chruinn	leis an bháisteach throm
ón chaisleán fhuar	ón chathair mhór
roimh an chruinniú thábhachtach	roimh an bhainis bheag
thar an chnoc bhán	thar an fharraige chiúin
tríd an ghairdín bhreá	tríd an fhuinneog ghorm
um an Bhille fhada	um an ghníomhaireacht reachtúil

1.7.4

As for masculine nouns and feminine nouns starting with s, a t is placed before the s (other than with nouns starting with sc-, sf-, sm-, sp-, st- or sv- which are left bare) as shown in the table below.

**Table 1K** The Dative Singular Case — The Lenition System — Nouns Starting with s
The Lenition System — Nouns Starting with s
Masculine	Feminine
t is put before the s, other than in case of sc-, sf-, sm-, sp-, st- or sv-
ag an tSeapánach chliste	ag an tseanmháthair bhocht
ar an tsuíochán fhliuch	ar an tsráid ghlan
as an tsailéad bhlasta	as an tsaoire bhliantúil
chuig an tSeanadóir nuacheaptha	chuig an tsatailít mhór
den tsaighdiúir shásúil	den tslándáil shóisialach
don tSeanadóir nua	don tsaoirse cheart
fairis an tsaineolaí lách	fairis an tseanbhean shaibhir
faoin tsonrasc déanach	faoin tslí dhíreach
sa tsoitheach ghorm	sa tseacláid mhilis
leis an tsalann bhán	leis an tslat fhada
ón tsuirbhé phearsanta	ón scoil bheag
roimh an tsamhradh fhada	roimh an tseachtain mhór
thar an tseol mhór	thar an tSionainn fhada
tríd an tsorcas mhór	tríd an tseift chliste
um an tsainchomhairleoir chruinn	um an tseirbhís mhaith

1.7.5

No change is done to either masculine nouns or feminine nouns starting with vowels. See the table below.

**Table 1L** The Dative Singular Case — The Lenition System — Nouns Starting with a Vowel
The Lenition System — Nouns Starting with a Vowel
Masculine	Feminine
ag an Albanach chiallmhar	ag an aeráid ghaofar
ar an eitleán dhubh	ar an olann bhán
as an uisce ghlan	as an iris cháiliúil
chuig an Aire ilteangach	chuig an Ostair shléibhtiúil
den alt fhada	den uimhir chruinn
don údarás céanna	don obair chrua
fairis an oifigeach mhúinte	fairis an ógbhean chliste

1.7.6

No change is done to either masculine nouns or feminine nouns starting with d and t. See the table below.

**Table 1M** The Dative Singular Case — The Lenition System — Nouns Starting with d and t
The Lenition System — Nouns Starting with d and t
Masculine	Feminine
faoin dréimire bhriste	faoin deacracht bhreise
sa theas mór	sa deoch fhuar
leis an duine ciúin	leis an taithí mhaith
ón deartháir cineálta	ón teanga líofa
roimh an tarbh fiáin	roimh an deighilt mhór
thar an teach gorm	thar an diallait nua
tríd an talamh crua	tríd an drochaimsir ghránna
um an dlí coiriúil	um an tagairt chuí