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What's "neagh"?

What's "neagh"?

I've been into ITM and other "Celtic" musics for quite a while now, but this term is new to me. I assume it's Gaelic? How do you pronounce it, and what does it mean?

TIA,
Michael

# Posted on October 18th 2005 by michaelr

Re: What's "neagh"?

If you do a search under neah/nyah in the discussion archive you will come up with a bit of info, but it is basically that character or feeling that some players have some of the time and only a few have all the time.
Pronounced: n - e - a-a-a-h. Very short e and long ah sound.
"Neagh" on the other hand is a lake in Northern Ireland.

# Posted on October 18th 2005 by Donough

Re: What's "neagh"?

Try these links:
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/4532/comments#comment94410
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/5919/comments#comment126790

# Posted on October 18th 2005 by Donough

Re: What's "neagh"?

Couldn't actually find it in Wikipedia - sorry Zena :)

# Posted on October 18th 2005 by Donough

Re: What's "neagh"?

Donough, did you ever happen to find Zina on Wikipedia?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zina

It's far more 'exotic', shall we say, than my nick name here, dat's for sure!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptarmigan

Meanwhile Donough, [or should we call you Rory?] I assume you've checked out your own family history on Wikipedia, while you were at it?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rory_na-bhFeadh_mac_Donough_Ua_Conchobair

# Posted on October 18th 2005 by Ptarmigan

Re: What's "neagh"?

That's scary. It says, zina "may be punished by up to 100 lashes."

# Posted on October 18th 2005 by slainte

Re: What's "neagh"?

....or "stoning"!................:-D

# Posted on October 18th 2005 by Ptarmigan

Re: What's "neagh"?

Martin Donohoe (Cavan box player) is the expert in this area. He runs a number of Nyah (different spelling but same pronounciation) festivals in the county every year.

# Posted on October 18th 2005 by Bannerman

Re: What's "neagh"?

I am down on my knees begging forgiveness - I mis-spelled Zina's name. I suppose that's a few more lashes. Maybe she won't read this and will never find out...............

# Posted on October 18th 2005 by Donough

Re: What's "neagh"?

Ptar - I am not of the O'Connor Clan, but interesting reading nevertheless.

# Posted on October 18th 2005 by Donough

Re: What's "neagh"?

From the Zina entry:
"whoever is not able to marry, should fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual power." -
feasting doesn't do it an awful lot of good either :-(

# Posted on October 18th 2005 by Bren

Re: What's "neagh"?

Drinking lots of Guinness is pretty debilitating too ...

# Posted on October 18th 2005 by Ottery

Re: What's "neagh"?

Bren have you actually tried both.
Surely all this talk must have Zena's ears burning.

# Posted on October 18th 2005 by Donough

Re: What's "neagh"?

when I was younger Donough ..... ah yeah, when I was younger .... what was the topic again?

# Posted on October 18th 2005 by Bren

Re: What's "neagh"?

I'd remind you Bren but, Neagh, ye'd just forget again!

# Posted on October 18th 2005 by Ptarmigan

Re: What's "neagh"?

Now I understand how the word is used among the musical community, but now, literally, what does the word mean--direct translation?

# Posted on October 18th 2005 by AlBrown

Re: What's "neagh"?

I think it's one of those expressions that doesn't translate into one meaning. It's like trying to define what gives music "soul."

# Posted on October 18th 2005 by Phantom Button

Re: What's "neagh"?

What's neagh ?
As in "Nyah, nayh, nyahnyah nyah
"Skideridedoo di do dah dah.......?"

# Posted on October 19th 2005 by Guernsey Pete

Re: What's "neagh"?

its analogous to, "if you aint got that swing, you aint got that thing". cant define either, you just gotta know it when you hear it.

# Posted on October 19th 2005 by daiv

Re: What's "neagh"?

ok, so maybe i got the quote backwards, and maybe its "it dont mean a thing" instead of "you aint got that thing". just wanted to say it before someone pointed it out.

# Posted on October 19th 2005 by daiv

Re: What's "neagh"?

I have been told that I have a certain "je ne sais quoi," but I don't know what it is.

# Posted on October 19th 2005 by AlBrown

Re: What's "neagh"?

I don't know if this is the context you mean - but my husband was a fiddler, and I remember him referring to a 'nyah F', which as near as I can make out was a way of playing an F on the fiddle - don't as me how - I think the sound was like creeping up on the F from below -

# Posted on October 23rd 2005 by drinharp

Re: What's "neagh"?

yeah. i know what neagh f is. my grandma does it all the time. especially if its an f natural.

# Posted on October 27th 2005 by daiv

Re: What's "neagh"?

That must be what Roche was talking about which he indicated on the charts with a star. Sorry I'm not at home and probably couldn't find the book if I was. I 'll get the quote in the next day or two if nobody beats me to it.

# Posted on October 27th 2005 by Owell Mabee

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