Uachtarán na hÉireann: Essential Irish Words and Phrases

Here are some essential words and phrases to know when talking about elections in Irish, with a focus on the Presidential election!

Togh | Elect

Let's start with the verb 'togh' - elect. This is going to be the root for lots of the phrases that follow!

Toghchán / election

Olltoghchán / general election (the prefix 'oll' means 'huge')

An toghchán uachtaránachta / the Presidential election

Toghcheantar / constituency (togh + ceantar (area))

An Comhaireamh | The Count

an chéad chomhaireamh / the first count

an dara comhaireamh / the second count

Toghadh ar an gcéad chomhaireamh í / She was elected on the first count

Ag Caitheamh Vóta | Casting a vote

In English the verb 'cast' is used when voting; 'caith' is used in Irish.

'Caith' is one of those multi-purpose verbs with lots of meanings! (e.g. ag caitheamh airgid / spending money; ag caitheamh éadaí / wearing clothes; ag caitheamh liathróid / throwing a ball!)

Ná déan dearmad vóta a chaitheamh! / Don't forget to vote

Chaith mé vóta don iarrthóir is fearr / I voted for the best candidate

An tUachtarán | The President

Uachtarán na hÉireann / The President of Ireland

Ba é Dubhghas de hÍde chéad Uachtarán na hÉireann / Douglas Hyde was the first President of Ireland

Is in Áras an Uachtaráin a bhíonn cónaí ar an Uachtarán / the President lives in Áras an Uachtaráin

Tá Áras an Uachtaráin suite i bPáirc an Fhionnuisce / Áras an Uachtaráin is situated in the Phoenix Park

You won't see a phoenix in the Phoenix Park!

The name of the Park derives from the original Irish “Fionn Uisce”  which means “clear water” or “bright water.”

Over time, English speakers misheard or anglicised Fionn Uisce as “Phoenix,” and the name stuck — even though it has nothing to do with the legendary phoenix bird.

An Lámh in Uachtar | The Upper Hand

Uachtarán contains the word uachtar which means 'top', (and it's also the Irish for 'cream'!)

When talking about getting the better of someone use the phrase an lámh in uachtar (lit. the upper hand, the hand on top).

Cé ag a mbeidh an lámh in uachtar i dtoghchán na huachtaránachta i mbliana?

Who will get the upper hand in the Presidential election this year?

Hopefully the short vocabulary list above will help if you are listening to reports about elections, or reading about them. These words and phrases will always be used at election time, so it's worth becoming familiar with them. Agus ar ndóigh ná déan dearmad do vóta a chaitheamh! And of course don't forget to vote!