Ninety-Nine Words for Rain

by Manchán Magan

Meet the néaladóirí (cloud-watchers) and réadóirí (stargazers) from our past who, without the luxury of Met Éireann at their disposal, observed birds, trees, animals, as well as markers on land and sea for signs of weather change. The sheer richness and variety of terms they amassed reveal the closeness with which they observed the world around them. Swallows flying low foretold rain. The heron’s behaviour offered many hints: Aimsir chrua thirim nuair a bhíonn an corr éisc suas in aghaidh srutha chun na sléibhte (when the heron flies upstream to the mountains the weather will be dry but rough). Fearthainn nuair a thagann sí an abhainn anuas (when she goes downstream, it will rain).



Evoking countless sodden, shivery experiences on this Atlantic-swept island of ours, this beautifully illustrated gift book uses Irish words to grasp an almost-lost world through the wisdom stored in the Irish language.

Genres: Nonfiction, Irish Literature, Ireland

256 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2025

About the author

Manchán Magan was a writer, traveller and television presenter. He grew up in Donnybrook, Dublin 4 and was the great-grandnephew of Mícheál Seosamh Ó Rathaille (aka: The O'Rahilly) He has made over 30 travel documentaries focusing on issues of world culture and globalization, 12 of them packaged under the Global Nomad series with his brother Ruán Magan. He presented No Béarla, a documentary series about traveling around Ireland speaking only Irish. He wrote a travel column for the Irish Times and his show The Big Adventure, on RTÉ Radio One explored adventure holidays. He has written two books in Irish, 'Baba-ji agus TnaG' (Coiscéim 2005) and 'Manchán ar Seachrán' (Coiscéím 1998), and his English travel books include ‘Angels & Rabies: a journey through the Americas’ (Brandon, 2006), ‘Manchán’s Travels: a journey through India’ (Brandon, 2007) and ‘Truck Fever: a journey through Africa’ (Brandon, 2008).



http://irishmedia.blogspot.com/2007/1...

Irish Times profile, 2007 by Róisín Ingle.

Reviews

[Chloe]

Beautifully illustrated, and full of words as Gaeilge I’d never heard of (I went to a gaelscoil for both primary and secondary school and did my leaving Cert exams through Irish but there’s so much of the language I’m still learning, which I love ☺️), this is also Manchán Magan’s final book before his terribly sad death at the end of 2025.

This isn’t a “sit down and read intently” kind of book. I picked it up every so often, read the words out loud and then enjoyed reading Manchán’s comment underneath them; language is so fascinating and none moreso than Irish. As I mentioned at the start, the illustrations are also a joy to look at.

I think this one might have been popular this Christmas, did you receive a copy? I borrowed mine from the library 🥰 Either way, I’m all for a book that stirs up interest in the Irish language.

Recommend!

[Anne-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a traditional cover to cover read, but a beautiful immersive thought invoking perusal. It is a perfect coffee table book to pick up and browse. For those unfamiliar with, or seeking to know more, it is a wonderful insight into the richness of the Irish language.

Magan informs in the introduction how the mysteries of our ancient history and culture can be unravelled through understanding the surviving expressions. He also notes that today’s obsession with the weather in Ireland is nothing new, given the range of words devoted to it in the Irish language! Furthermore, you often hear an Irish person say there are four seasons in a day in Ireland. The following ancient expression takes this further “lá na seacht síon, le gaoth mhór, báisteach, sioc agus sneachta, tintreach, tóirneach agus lonrú gréine” which means "a day of seven weathers, with high wind, rain, frost and snow, thunder, lightning and sunshine".

Another fascinating insight in this book is how a state project was organised in 1937-1939 where fifty thousand children in 5,000 schools collected Irish stories and expressions from their elders. I never heard this before. What a brainchild that was. This is how many of the weather related phrases Magan references were captured and written down.

The translations are fascinating to read through, the following stood out for me.
• “Ag cur báistí” means ‘it is raining’ in Irish, probably the most commonly known reference to ‘raining’ in modern school Irish. But “lascadh báistí” describes what I have experienced hiking; it refers to rain that “lashes, whips and flogs you”!!
• I also love the poetic beauty of “deoir fhaearthainne” which literally translates as “rain tear” (for a rain drop); how beautiful is that.
• Lastly, “Gailfean” is “heavy rain with strong wind” and is derived from ‘gaill-shíon’ meaning ‘furious’ weather. Often weather does feel angry or furious! I love the idea that weather is attributed emotions.

[Alyson Indrunas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Illustrator research and quite lovely to read during days and days of rain in the PNW. Always in love with writers and artists who are resisting technology as a replacement for the wisdom of people and animals.

This was quote was my favorite:

"Some words and phrases offer an almost choreographic description of our reaction to weather, such as that for a cold morning, maidin le bheith ag pógadh na copán (literally, 'a morning to be kissing the kneecaps, summoning an image of staying underneath the covers with your knees tucked up underneath your chin)..."

[Haylee Parent · Rating 4 out of 5]

What began as a simple effort to learn Irish to please my husband (and understand the signs in our country) has bloomed into a fierce love of one of the most expressive and powerful spoken languages. This author so deeply imbues his work with a love of both linguistics and culture, culminating in a very poignant examination of life in language.

[Abby Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

for my 99th book of the year, I thought I’d read Ninety-Nine Words for Rain (and One for Sun), and I loved it. Great way to get some more Irish in before the end of the year, and it seems a hopeful reminder that even such an extensive vocabulary for rain can’t overtake the power of the sun

[Podge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a lot of reading in it, but what's there is lovely. beautifully illustrated. RIP to a hero.

[áine]

sramach - drizzly, clammy, damp weather. Gummy, bleary eyes. Slimy track of a snail. Clotted traces of blood

tá sé ag cur sceana agus forc

leipreachán an chlaí - toad :)

[Lars Winky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious, represents the Irish wit and the Irish landscape

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully presented research. Due to the lack of words it leaves much up to the reader in terms of interpretation and thought

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful demonstration of the complexities and richness of the Irish language. Gorgeous illustrations to accompany.

[Majella Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Venture across the veil and meet the god in the weather.

[Sarah M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute!

[Katie deHaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant beautiful and intensely memorable, in so many ways. 7 stars please! Fascinating topic with glorious illustrations. It will be with me as I ponder the weather and try to express myself in Irish. Great artist and another wonderful poignant memory of Manchán. 😘😘😘😰🌧️🌦️☔️💧Later: So good to hear this book has won an award in the 2025 An Post Book Awards! The Journal.ie Best Irish-published Book of the Year! Manchán Magan and illustrated by Megan Luddy