In fairness, it is a great word.
There are some words we take for granted in Ireland, that you only realise the rest of the world doesn’t use when you go abroad.
If you describe something as “deadly”, most people in foreign countries will take it literally, and not understand that by “deadly”, you actually mean “very good”.
Another word that is only used in a certain context in Ireland is “shift”, which is an experience that we hope you’ve never had to deal with…
And one word that means absolutely nothing to people in other countries is “eejit”.
But that could all be about to change.
Brendan Boyle, a Congressman from Pennsylvania, has said that he is on a mission to popularise the use of the word “eejit” in America, and we are more than happy to get behind him.
He took to Twitter to talk about his grá for that word in particular.
I’m on a mission to make the word eejit widely used in America. Few people who follow me will understand what I’m talking about. But those who do will surely appreciate it!
(I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard “Brendan, don’t be the eejit” while growing up).— US Rep Brendan Boyle (@RepBrendanBoyle) February 13, 2019
Now this is the sort of American politics we can get behind.
Boyle was born in America, but his father is from Donegal, and his grandparents grew up in Sligo.
With policies like this, we reckon he’s going to go a long way. Too early for us to start a #Boyle2020 campaign?
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
