language note:
Gaelic is a member of the Celtic family of languages whose varieties can still be found in parts of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic), Ireland (Irish Gaelic), and the Isle of Man (Manx Gaelic). Although Gaelic has influenced Scottish and Irish English through colourful loan words, only a few Gaelic words have become assimilated into today's Standard English. The Irish Gaelic loan word
brogue, referring to a broad gentle-sounding dialectal accent, was borrowed in the 18th century into English. It is not known whether it is related to the walking shoe of that name. It refers first and foremost to the accent with which the Irish speak English, known as
the brogue, but has been applied more widely to other British regional accents, particularly those of Celtic origin. Another Irish Gaelic word is
galore, meaning `to sufficiency' or `in abundance' which came into English in the 17th century. It is one of a very small group of words which are only ever used after the noun they describe, and this structure is typical of some words English has borrowed, e.g. There had been
opportunities galore in the 1980s. It can be compared to the adjective
aplenty, both in its meaning and in its grammatical behaviour. Unlike `abundance' which describes a surplus which can be good, bad, or neutral, `galore' tends to have positive connotations and is often used in advertising, e.g.
bargains galore.