Sir, – Further to Frank McNally’s “A history of Ireland in 100 goodbyes” (An Irishman’s Diary, September 30th), my father used to say “It’s time to say the Rosary.” That cleared the house fairly smartly. – Yours, etc,
DENIS CREMINS,
Dublin 8.
Sir, – An old Connemara saying: “He was here a while ago, but he won’t be long gone soon.” – Yours, etc,
EILEEN MANGAN,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin
Sir, – “May God direct you.” – Yours, etc,
PATRICK WHELAN,
Mullingar,
Co Westmeath.
Sir, –The favoured parting exhortation of my late uncle Eamonn Vaughan: “You can tell your stories walking!” – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL VAUGHAN,
Proprietor,
Vaughan Lodge Hotel,
Lahinch,
Co Clare.
Sir, – When our friends stayed too late, our father would open the hall door, stand outside and declare: “It’s a lovely night. Sure anyone at all could go home on a night like this.” It never failed. – Yours, etc,
FIONNUALA DUNNE,
Sandycove,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – My late mother used to say, “If I don’t see you through the week, I’ll see you though the window!” – Yours, etc,
MARY DUNNE,
Gormanston,
Co Meath.
Sir, – To quote our beloved mother on visitors, “I’ll see you past the gander.” – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL KELLY,
Tralee,
Co Kerry.
A chara, – As he first saw the light of day not too far from South Armagh, I was surprised Frank hadn’t included this one in his top 100: “Fare thee well Killeavy and the boys of Mullaghbawn.” Another one, favoured by a well-known Dundalk pub-owner of a number of years ago: “Watch yourself on the step.” – Yours, etc,
JOE CARROLL,
Dundalk,
Co Louth.
Sir, – " Listen, I’m only holding you up.” – Yours, etc,
PJ McDERMOTT,
Westport,
Co Mayo.
Sir, – My Co Carlow farmer grandfather, circa 1920, on leaving after a visit to his cousin on the other side of the parish, “Here I am going home, and I haven’t done half the talking I came to do.” – Yours, etc,
CECIL MILLS,
Monkstown,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – “If you fall through the mattress, I’ll see you in the spring.” – Yours, etc,
URSULA HOUGH-GORMLEY,
Dublin 4.