It’s that time of year again. What to buy the aul fella for fathers day?
Easy, one of our fine Norn Iron T-Shirts makes the perfect gift for any aul fella! If you order between 9 June to 14 June 2015, you will get FREE DELIVERY! Make sure you use the voucher code YERDA at the checkout of our webstore. Usual T’s&C’s apply
We’ve come a long way since the Norn Iron T-Shirts brand was created way back in late 2004. Some things have changed over the years, but the craic is still the same. It’s always been our mission to provide good honest craic.
So bringing us bang up-to-date, we’ve launched our brand new mobile/tablet friendly site.
We know that 30 percent of all searches for our products came from a mobile device, in response we are now fully mobile optimised. Whether you’re sitting in your spare bedroom, strolling the East Strand in Portrush, or sitting in your tractor in Aghadowey, you’ll always be able to buy our famous t-shirts.
Of course, you can always do it the old fashioned way, and stop by at the stall at St.George’s Market in the heart of Belfast City centre.
Norn Iron T-Shirts would like to wish all our customers and friends a very prosperous 2015.
As a special New Year gesture, we are offering all customers 10% off all online orders, using voucher code JAN2015. Happy days! As usual, T&C’s apply (they can be found on the Norn Iron T-Shirts website)
Norn Iron T-Shirts New Year Sale!
Tell me who is the Buck Eejit in your life and win a t-shirt!
From time to time, I like to run a competition. So this month, I am asking you to nominate your favourite buck eejit in your life.
This rules of the competition are simple. Go to the Norn Iron T-Shirts Facebook page;
1. LIKE the Post
2. Comment with the name of the person who is the buck eejit in your life.
You are free to enter as many buck eejits as you like!
The competition closes on 30th September 2014. The competition winner will be notified via a PM on Facebook.
If you can’t wait until the end of the month to win this t-shirt, you can always stop by at the Norn Iron T-Shirts online shop www.nornirontshirts.com
Good luck!
The Queen of England Visits Norn Iron T-Shirts!
This week Belfast City Council hosted an event called “Celebrating the Best of Belfast”, highlighting some of the city’s popular tourist attractions. With special guests of honour; HRH Queen Elizabeth 2 and the Duke Of Edinburgh.
Their day started off with a trip to the Crumlin Road Gaol aka “the Crum”. Accompanied by two former inmates – The First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.
Mr McGuinness was held in the prison for over a month in 1976 on a charge of IRA membership – a count that was later dropped in court.
DUP leader Mr Robinson was detained on a number of occasions during the 1980s for his involvement in protests against the controversial Anglo Irish Agreement.
Hey this is Northern Ireland expect nothing less from our politicians !
Next stop was to the newly regenerated Titanic Quarter. According the the Titanic Quarter Ltd, “Titanic Quarter’s futuristic mix of residential, commercial, tourism, education and retail space has provided Belfast with a new urban quarter.” So there you have it. We all know it as the shipyards.
The famous Paint Hall, where the Titanic and other ships were painted back in the day, has now been converted into a Sound Stage, attracting many a Hollywood block buster (and that’s not Holywood Co.Down either!).
Currently, HBO’s Game of Thrones is recording it’s fifth season at the studios. This was to be the royal couple’s next port of call. The Queen has paid a visit to the Game Of Thrones set, she was safe in the knowledge that there is no dispute over her place as monarch. The Iron Throne was on display for the Queen, but she declined the opportunity to test it out for comfort!
Next stop. Daaarn the market! Everyone loves a trip down to St George’s Market, including the Queen.
A couple of weeks ago we were asked to attend a special Tuesday market “Celebrating the Best of Belfast”. The interior walls got a lick of fresh paint, heck, even the floor got a power hose! You would have thought the Queen was coming or summat! Little did we know! The rumours fluttered about on on Monday it was confirmed that the Queen would be visiting our wee market.
As we entered the market, we were greeted by airport style security. Cops, sniffer dogs, scurrying council officials, badly dressed UTV presenters, and BBC’s Martina Purdy being super dynamic and wanting to get that “Godamn shot”. Our morning in the market was filled with much anticipation. But in typical market trader fashion, we took it in our stride. Poured another cup of coffee from our flasks, gossiped, and pondered “isn’t that yer man off the telly?”.
Crowd wise, it was a cross between a Wedding Party and the Twelfth, minus the blue carry-out bags. Lots a women of a certain age, dressed in their Sunday best to meet the Queen. Some had even got their hair done specially! Followed by some dodgy spides, “Watch yer begs love”.
Suddenly, a police man went running by. “They’re on their way!”. And with that, the crowds heaved towards the market doors, and the Royal couple entered St George’s.
The couple made their way around the market, meeting fellow traders on scheduled stops. Being presented with gifts en-route. It was one said that a fellow trader had even squeezed some Royal tenners out of them!
As the crowds followed the couple and their entourage around the market, they eventually arrived at my aisle. The Queen made an unscheduled stop at the stall next to me, Irish Wood And Wool. Proprietor and proud Englishman Dougie was made up as the Queen enquirer about his workmanship.
As I heard “…and this is Norn Iron T-Shirts.”, I found a small English monarch perusing my wears. I thought to myself; “Don’t call her love, or refer to her husband as a buck eejit”. That’s my usual market banter.
To be fair, like most English people at my stall, she looked a bit baffled. Secretary of State for Northern Ireland,Theresa Villiers, did some explaining. The Royal entourage did a Royal chuckle, and off they went about their Royal business of doing Royal things like having lunch at the City Hall, and eating watercress sammiges at Hillsborough Castle.
I’m glad I put a clean shirt on.
Yeah, it’s a shameless plug for the Norn Iron T-Shirts online shop!
http://nornirontshirts.bigcartel.com/
You can usually find Norn Iron T-Shirts at St Georges Market every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the heart of sunny Belfast. However, for those not in Belfast why not check out my website. I carry a wider selection than the market stall plus all tees can be delivered worldwide!
Happy days!
Unlike the UK, as everyone local knows, satellite navigation is completely pointless in Northern Ireland, much like the rest of the island of Ireland.
“Do you know anyone who lives on the B95?
Of course not! It’s Ballylismascaddyvalnahanmuck turn off!”
“Get a John Joe or get lost!”
The Northern Irish have a peculiar, yet endearing, turn of phrase. Of course, most of our phrases and sayings come from the Ulster Scots dialect, although not exclusively. Each area of the province has it’s own colloquialisms and idioms; what’s said in Co. Antrim may be confusing for those in Co. Fermangh. And when these culchies come on up till the big city, they are then confronted with how themuns in Belfast spake!
For visitors to our wee country, this can be particularly confusing! Having my Norn Iron T-shirts stall on St Georges market, I’m on the front line when it comes to baffled tourists. There’s not a weekend goes by, that I do not find myself explaining what “the craic” is to a US visitor. During last year’s World Police and Fire Games, when I offered an LAPD officer a Craic Addict t-shirt, he wasn’t having it! In fact, he was quite offended that I would even suggest he would even take crack! Oh boys a dear! At least our Canadians and Australian muckers get it! There’s been many a time I’ve witnessed foreign visitors furiously thumbing through their English/whatever language phrase books looking for a meaning, and not finding it! Then asking confusedly in broken English, “What is a Dirty Wee Hallion?”.
So here it is, the Norn Iron T-Shirts guide fer how till spake praper!
A
A pace – at peace – to quietly sit still “would yousuns sit a pace!”
A face only a mother could love – ugly
A face like a baten bear – ugly
A face like a busted bun – ugly
A wee cup a tae in yer han – a cup of tea
A wee drap a tae in yer han – a cup of tea – the cup is not optional in reality but it is in speaking
Afeard – scared
Affronted – offended
Ah – me
Ah could see ye far enough – you are driving me crazy
Ah coulda ate the arse af a baby through the cot bars – i was really hungry
Ah way – a wee – a little bit
Ah way on! – go away
Ah wouldn’t give him the skin a ma skitter! – I wouldn’t give him anything – look up skitter to see just how rude this one is…
Ah’ll gee ya a slap in the kite – i shall slap your face
Ah’ll knack yer ballax in – i will beat you senseless
alright? – hello
All the best! – good bye!
Amptnah? – aren’t i?
Any more of this and there’ll be less of it! – stop it or else!
Are ye away? – are you leaving?
Are ye deef? – are you finding it hard to hear me?
Are ye gettin’? – are you being served?
Are yer havin’ a laugh? – are you kidding?
Arse – bottom
Article – a person you don’t like
As rough as a badger’s backside – less than sophistocated
As tight as a duck’s backside – mean with money
Away in the head – stupid
Away on! – you’re kidding!
Away ta fuck – oh come on now, you don’t mean that! or go away please
Awful – very “thon wee fella’s awful nice!”
A wee want – a person who is not very bright
Aye – yes
Aul fella – an older man/ your father/your husband “wheres the aul fella today?
Aye yer ma! – Whatever
B
Bad wee rip – a person with a bad reputation
Bake – face or mouth
Bakebook – Facebook
Ballix – nonsense
Balloon – a fool
Baltic – to be really cold
Banjaxed – broken
Bap – bread roll or your head
Barred – a death sentence as it means you are not allowed in the bar
Bate – to beat something
Beezer! – great!
Beg – a bag
Big Lawd – man
Big mawn – man
Blade – a young person up to no good.
Bladdered – drunk
Blocked – drunk
Blootered – drunk
Blurt – rude young man
Boggin’ – a filthy mess
Boke – vomit
Boney – a bonfire
Bout ye! – Hello, how are you today?
Boys a dear – oh my word!
Brave – quite large/good
Brew – unemployment benefit
Brutal – shocking
Buck eejit – a mad idiot “Yer man’s a buck eejit!”
C
Calm yer knickers – calm down
Cap shap – Police station
Catch yerself on! – wise up!
Catch yer head on! – wise up!
Champ – mashed potatoes with scallions
Chancer – someone trying to con
Cheeky wee get – cheeky chap
Chile – a child
Childers – children
Chippers – fish and chip shop
Clampit – idiot
Clarty – unclean/disgusting
Class – great/good
Cool yer jets – calm down
Coddin’ – joking
Craic – (prononuced crack) – to have good fun or a good time
Cracker – good
Critter – creature/person
Culchie – someone who from the countryside
Curly bap – curly hair
Cut – drunk
D
Dander – walk
Dead on – everything is good
Deadly – difficult
Deef – deaf “are yousens deef or what?”
Desperate – very bad
Diddies – large breasts
Dig – to punch “A’ll give you a dig in the bake”
Dine – down
Dirty wee hallion – a cheeky or rude rascal. Can apply to 10 year old boys or randy 50 year men.
Do ye think i came up the Lagain/Bann/foyle in a bubble? – Do you think i was born yesterday?
Does yer head in – drives you crazy/up the wall
Doesn’t know his arse from his elbow – he doesn’t know what he is talking about
Dog’s ballix – a show off
Dog’s dinner – a mess
Doll – woman
Dote – cute/adorable “thon chile is a wee dote”
Doin’ a line – to go out with someone romantically “yer woman offa the news is doin’ a line with the weather man””
Doin’ the double – to claim unemployment benefit whilst working
Doorsteps – thickly cut sandwich
Dour – miserable
Drooth – to be thirsty “I’ve a while drooth on me”
Dry yer eyes – stop crying/whinging
E
Eejit – affectionate term for an idiot
F
Face like a lugan spade – long face
Face like a bulldog chewing a wasp – very ugly
Face like a well skelped arse – slapped face
Fally – to follow
Feg – a cigarette
Fell down the ugly tree and didn’t miss a branch – very ugly
Ferfeckssake! – oh for goodness sake!
Fillum – a film
Flur – floor
Footering – to fiddle with something “Wheres yer da? He’s in the garage footering with the lawn mower”
Forlorn – pitiful
Fur coat, no knickers – all show
G
Ganch – an argumentative person
Geg – joke or funny
Get ‘er bucked! – to get stuck in. to have sex
Getawaytafuk! – no way!
Get on the Googles – to use a search engine
Give ma head peace – leave me alone
Give us a buck at ye! – I would like to take you home and make love to you.
Give out – complain or scold
Grand – everything is fine/good
Gulder – shouting
Gurn – to cry or complain
Gutted – disappointed
Gutties – trainers/running shoes
H
Half cut – half drunk
Hallion – a rascal, someone up to no good
Hammered – drunk
Happy Days! – everything is good
Header – a fool “yer mans a header, so he is!”
Head staggers – A fit of petty annoyance, to huff
Head the ball – a fool
Hectic – mad/crazy
Heel – the thick end of a loaf
Hoke – to search “hoke about in my beg fer my keys”
Hoop – your bottom “I slipped on the ice and fell on ma hoop!”
Hot press – airing cupboard
Hoods – criminal/delinquent
Houl on – wait/hold on
Houl yer horses – wait/hold on
How’s it cuttin’? – how are you?
I
I tell a lie! – i stand corrected
If your mother was still alive that would kill her! – that wasn’t a nice thing to do!
If God spares me – if i am still alive or if God permits
I’ll do you in! – I’ll kill you!
Is that you? – are you finished?
J
Jawbox – kitchen sink
Jeepers! – an exclamation
K
Kebs- feet “My da has smelly kebs”
Keep ‘er lit! – Keep in there, keep going
Keks – trousers or underwear depending on your mood
Knock it inta ya! – eat up! or drink up!
Knock that down ye – eat up! or drink up!
L
Lamped – hit/punched
Lifted – arrested “oer wee fella was lifted by the peelers last night”
Look at the bake on her! – look at her face!
Looper – idiot
lug – ear
lug ole – ear hole
M
Mad – hectic
magic – good/great
melt – can mean head/shit/whatever is appropriate – “I’ll knock yer melt in!”
Messages – shopping
Millie / millbeg – a girl from a working class area
Mingin’ – dirty/messy/horrible
Minerals – fizzy drink (not water)
Mitch – to play truant from school
Mooncat – not wise
Monks – male underwear
More power to yer elbow – good luck to you
Mucker – friend
Mustard – troublesome “He’s mustard so he is!”
N
Nay bor – no problem
nice one! – well done!
Nigh – now
Norn Iron – Northern Ireland
Numpty – a fool
O
Oxsters – armpits
P
Pan loaf – regular bread as opposed to “plain loaf” which is slightly coarser and much better
parful – powerful
Pastie – minced pork with mashed potato shaped into a patty and battered then deep fried
Peelers – the police
Piece – a sandwich
Piece box – sandwich box
Pishin’ down – raining heavily
Pished – drunk
Poke – ice cream cone
Pole axed – drunk
Praper – proper
Q
Quare – a large amount
Quit yer yackin’ – stop moaning
R
Rake – to speed
Ride – a sexy person “yer wee man’s a pure ride!”
Ride – sex
Round – slice of bread
S
Sammige – sandwich
Sangwich – sandwich
Saunter – walk away from me
Says I – i said
Says I to her – i said to her
Schuck – ditch at side of road
Shappin’ – shopping
Shrapnel – coins
Scullery – the working kitchen
Scundered – embarrassed
Scunnered – tired
Shar – shower
Shut yer bake! – shut up!
Sicken ye – that would annoy you
Signed – sound
Skelpt – slapped
Skitter – a cheeky young person
Slabber – to talk rubbish
Slap it up ye! – serves you right!
Sleekit – sneaky
Smoother – Steam iron
Some pup – clever person
sound – nice “he’s sound”
Spacer / space cadet – an idiot
Spide – a male townie
spoofin’ – lying
spoon – silly person
Spuds – potatoes
Steaming – drunk
stickin’ out – this is good
Stocious – drunk
Suckin’ diesel – to be powered up and ready for action
Swally – to drink
T
Tarbil – terrible as in very
There you are now – a phrase used when something is over or finished.
Themuns – those other people “themuns get everything an we get nothin’!”
thick as champ – stupid
Thon – that
Thran – stubborn
Throughother – disorganised, a mess
Thunderplump – a thunderstorm
Ticket – to be full of ones self-importance
Till – to
Titter of wit – sensible
Tout – to report someone “themuns touted my up till the peelers”
Trail – to pull
Tube – idiot
U
Undercrackers – underwear
Up to high doe – worried/stressed out
Upcaste – to bring up the past
V
W
Waste of space – a person not worth bothering with
We’an – wee one – a child
Wee – little – goes in front of everything and anything – has nothing to do with size!
wee buns – easy
Wee doll – girl
Weeker! – brilliant!
weemin – women
Wee drap in yer han – cup of tea
Wee want – to be intellectually challenged
Well there you are now – a phrase to signify that something has come to an end or has finished.
Wet the babies head – go out to celebrate the birth of a baby
What’s the craic? – what’s happening?
Whataboutye! – How are you doing this fine day?
While – wild
wick – not good
Wind yer neck in – Shut up and calm down
Windie – window
Wired up till the moon – deranged
Wise up! – Behave
Wise the bap! – Wise up
X
X-ee O -Zees – Naughts and crosses
Y
Yer – your
Yer aul arse – you are talking utter rubbish
Yer head’s a marley! – your head is a marble – as in you have no brains my dear friend
Yer head’s full of wee sweetie mice – you are daft
Yer da! – your father!
Yer ma! – your mother!
Yer ma’s yer da! – very insulting
Yon – that
Youse – you
Youse gettin’? – are you getting served?
Yousens – you other people
Well, there you are now!
You can visit Norn Iron T-Shirts at Belfast’s award winning St Georges Market every weekend.
Or you can buy our tees online by visiting www.nornirontshirts.com We deliver Northern Irish craic world wide!
So we did did it! Our very own St Georges Market, nestled in the heart of Belfast city centre has won the 2014 National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA) Award for Best Indoor Market 2014. This year St Georges Market beat off competition from internationally famous London markets Spitalfields, Billingsgate, and Borough. Which is great news for people like myself who are fortunate to run their business from the historic Victorian market hall.
History bit…
St Georges Market was built between 1890-1896 by J. C. Bretland. There has been a market on the same site between May Street and Bridge Street for over 400 years. Since the current market hall was built, the building has gone through some hard times, and almost faced closure in 1993 by Belfast City Council after it was earmarked for redevelopment. Luckily, thanks to a “Save St Georges Market” campaign, by the local community and the market traders, the building was reprieved. In 1997 a multi–million pound project was implemented and the market was refurbished.
Today, the market is open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday throughout the year.
Friday Variety Market – Open 6am – 2pm
You’ll find around 248 market stalls selling products from Atlantic shark to antiques and fresh fruit. The fish section alone contains 23 fish stalls and holds the reputation for being the leading retail fish market in Ireland. Friday market is an old fashioned market. Expect to find old women with their shopping trollies getting their weekend messages.
The Saturday City Food and Craft Market – Open 9am to 3pm
Saturday is more of a farmers market. You’ll find great local food produce, as well as savoring international flavours from the many nationalities that have settled in Northern Ireland. The market is also home to some of Northern Ireland’s finest crafters and artists, where you can purchase a variety of Northern Irish themed goods. It’s lively market with the addition of great live music which give the place a really great vibe.
Sunday Food, Craft and Variety Market – Open 10 – 4
Sunday market is a mixture of the Friday and Saturday markets, but with an emphasis on local arts and crafts, and again with the added bonus of live music. Sunday market is my personal favourite, as I’m sure most other traders will agree.
Sunday market is fast becoming a hub for a growing number of foreign tourists to Northern Ireland. With the general increase in tourism to the province, the Cruise Liners docking at the Port of Belfast, and the simple fact that the market is the only place open in Belfast on a Sunday morning! Plus, the market is under cover which makes its a perfect rainy day out.
St Georges on a Sunday is also a real family affair, there really is something for everyone; Vinyl records, antiques & vintage, cupcakes, art, food, jewellery, clothing and of course Norn Iron T-Shirts! Most Sunday visitors usually start off with a dander round the market, before getting stuck in to a hearty Ulster Fry, and then getting down to some serious market shopping! The atmosphere is fantastic, if you’ve never been to St Georges market, I personally recommend visiting on a Sunday.
You can find Norn Iron T-Shirts in St Georges Market every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday all year round! Call on over to my stall and say “Hello”, I’ll be really pleased to see you!
I’ve finally got around to it and created a blog based around my life at Norn Iron T-Shirts. Expect plenty of Northern Ireland gossip and general market banter.
A potted history; I launched the Norn Iron T-Shirts brand almost 10 years ago, during a period of sickness. Bored senseless of day-time TV, I took to the internet and and launched Norn Iron T-Shirts off the back off the Myspace social media platform. All these years later, I never expected that I would be a full-time market trader, nevermind running my own business!
You can shop with Norn Iron T-Shirts online at www.nornirontshirts.com, or you can visit my stall every weekend at the award winning St.Georges Market in Belfast. Also feel free to give Norn Iron T-Shirts a wee like on Facebook , follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Google+. Although to be honest, nothing beats meeting my customers face to face at St Georges market.
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