Modern Irish historical events and concepts

the Anglo-Irish war: it can be called an Cogadh Angla-Éireannach, genitive an Chogaidh Angla-Éireannaigh. However, the definite genitive construction Cogadh na Saoirse is very much preferable. Its genitive form is Chogadh na Saoirse: thus, we say stair Chogadh na Saoirse 'the history of the Anglo-Irish war'.

Auxiliaries/Auxies are often confused with Black and Tans, but the recommended term is na Póilíní Cúnta. Singular nominative an Póilín Cúnta, singular genitive an Phóilín Chúnta, plural nominative na Póilíní Cúnta, plural genitive na bPóilíní Cúnta. 

Black and Tans translates as na Dúchrónaigh. Singular nominative an Dúchrónach, genitive an Dúchrónaigh, plural na Dúchrónaigh, plural genitive na nDúchrónach. The official British term for Black and Tans was "the Royal Irish Constabulary Special Reserve", which can be translated into Irish as Cúltaca Speisialta Chonstáblacht Ríoga na hÉireann.

Blueshirts is na Léinte Gorma; of course, it is fine to use some dialectal or colloquial plural such as na Léinteacha Gorma, na Léintíocha Gorma.

Castle Catholics: as a group, they should be called Caitlicigh an Chaisleáin. One person is Caitliceach de chuid an Chaisleáin.  

the Civil War can be called an Cogadh Cathartha, genitive an Chogaidh Chathartha, or Cogadh Cathartha na hÉireann, genitive Chogadh Cathartha na hÉireann, but when you want to convey the sense of tragedy with earlier brothers-in-arms shooting at each other, the "parting of the ways" as they sing in the Broad Black Brimmer, then you use Cogadh na gCarad, genitive Chogadh na gCarad, i.e. "the war of the friends". (By the way, I guess the "parting of the ways" that led to the Civil War is best called scaradh na gcompánach in Irish.) 

the Easter Rising is, of course, Éirí Amach na Cásca. A definite genitive construction beginning with a vowel, it does not change when it is in genitive position itself: laochra Éirí Amach na Cásca 'the heroes of the Easter Rising'

the Emergency is nowadays often called an Éigeandáil, genitive na hÉigeandála. It should however be pointed out that contemporaries called it Ré na Práinne. That is a definite genitive construction, and has thus no special genitive form: blianta Ré na Práinne 'the Emergency Years'.


Fenian - Fínín. It is masculine: an Fínín, an Fhínín, na Fíníní, na bhFíníní.

the Free State is obviously called an Saorstát, genitive an tSaorstáit. But Saorstát Éireann is a definite genitive phrase, which means that it has only the genitive Shaorstát Éireann. The Staters or Free Staters are Státairí or Saorstátairí. Inflection: an Státaire, an Státaire, na Státairí, na Státairí, or an Saorstátaire, an tSaorstátaire, na Saorstátairí, na Saorstátairí.

Home Rule - Contemporary Irish writers used the English expression. If you prefer not to, you can use an Rialtas Dúchais. Rialtas, obviously, is a masculine noun with the genitive form rialtais, but in a close-knit genitive expressions such as this, it is more natural not to use the genitive form, so we'll say Páirtí an Rialtas Dúchais for 'the Home Rule party'.

the IRA - This is a tricky one. Usually we just use an tIRA, genitive form an IRA, to refer to the most recent manifestations of the IRA concept. Historically, IRA was the same as the Irish Volunteers, or Óglaigh na hÉireann, to start with, but the problem is that even the armed forces of the Irish state see themselves as the only legitimate continuation of that tradition.

the Irish Republican Brotherhood - tearma.ie gives Bráithreachas Phoblacht na hÉireann, but while it is grammatically correct, it is rather heavy and clumsy. I'd say Bráithreachas na Poblachta is easier to use - it is not exactly unclear which country the brethren wanted to turn into a republic, is it? It is a definite genitive construction, so that when it is put in genitive position, it is just lenited: scéal Bhráithreachas na Poblachta 'the story of the Irish Republican Brotherhood'. 

the Irish Transport and General Workers Union is according to Tearma.ie Ceardchumann Oibrithe Iompair agus Ilsaothair na hÉireann, and it being a definite genitive construction, its genitive form just changes that C- in Ceardchumann into a Ch-.

the Irish Volunteers - Óglaigh na hÉireann. This is a definite genitive construction, and thus won't change when it is in genitive position itself: stair Óglaigh na hÉireann 'the history of the Irish Volunteers'. The word óglach means basically 'enlisted (military) man', for 'volunteer' in other senses saorálaí or deonach is used (the latter is basically an adjective, but can be used as a noun). Note also gallóglach 'gallowglass'. Yes, that one is an Irish loanword in English.

the Irish Parliamentary Party or the Redmondites: the name can be translated as Páirtí Parlaiminteach na hÉireann, but I have seen Feisire (parlamentarian, member of parlament) used in the sense of a member of this party by Irish language writers contemporary to the party. Thus, Páirtí na bhFeisirí could also be used, but note that Feisire can simply refer to a Westminster MP of any party. Of course, Réamannach 'Redmondite' works fine in Irish, too. It has the forms an Réamannach, an Réamannaigh, na Réamannaigh, na Réamannach.

the Lockout is an Frithdhúnadh, genitive an Fhrithdhúnta.

Orange: The word oráiste is in my opinion basically a noun meaning 'orange' in the sense of the fruit so called. However, for the colour, I prefer flannbhuí. And buí 'yellow' actually has some history as the Irish word for 'orange' as an adjective referring to the Orange Order. I'd tend to call the Orange Order the Yellow Brotherhood in Irish, i.e. an Bráithreachas Buí. Note also that John Bull, the personification of England, is in Irish Yellow John, i.e. Seán Buí. An Orangeman is in Irish, traditionally, Fear Buí. Thus: Bíonn na Fir Bhuí/na Bráithre Buí amuigh ag máirseáil ar an dóú lá déag de Mhí Iúil 'the Orangemen, the Orange Brethren, are out marching on the 12th of July.

Protestant: speaking of Northern Protestants, the traditional word is not Protastúnach, but Albanach, i.e. Scotsman. If you want to say in Ulster Irish that somebody is really a Scotsman from Scotland, you might be forced to say duine as Albain. If you need a word for 'Prod' badly, you are advised to use Prodasnach. It is not a slur, it is just a dialectal form of Protastúnach.

the Royal Irish Constabulary can be called Constáblacht Ríoga na hÉireann, but the people called them na Saighdiúirí Dubha, the black soldiers. Singular nominative an Saighdiúir Dubh, singular genitive an tSaighdiúra Dhuibh, plural nominative na Saighdiúirí Dubha, plural genitive na Saighdiúirí Dubha.

Sinn Féin is obviously Sinn Féin in Irish. It is treated as a proper noun, and has thus the genitive form Shinn Féin. A member of Sinn Féin is Sinn Féiní, which is masculine: an Sinn Féiní, an tSinn Féiní, na Sinn Féinithe, na Sinn Féinithe. 

the Treaty is basically just an Conradh, genitive an Chonartha. Which treaty? The Anglo-Irish treaty, of course. In its full form, an Conradh Angla-Éireannach, genitive an Chonartha Angla-Éireannaigh. Yes, that adjective Angla-Éireannach does look rather clumsy.

Ulster's Solemn League and Covenant translates into Irish just fine: Conradh agus Cúnant Sollúnta Uladh. The word Uladh is a genitive of Ulaidh 'Ulster', and thus, the whole construction is a definite genitive. (Proper names are definite by virtue of being proper names.)

Ulster Volunteer Force  is most easily translated as Óglaigh Uladh. You can also say Fórsa Óglaigh Uladh. Again, Uladh is a definite genitive, and thus Óglaigh is here frozen into the form it is in. (If you want to say "an Ulster Volunteer", you must say fear/duine d'Óglaigh Uladh.)