Slán abhaile

"Slán abhaile" is an Irish phrase used to bid goodbye to someone who is travelling home. A literal translation is 'Safe Home', which is used in the same way in Hiberno-English.^[1] Slán ("safe") is used in many Irish-language farewell formulas; abhaile means "homeward" (roughly pronounced 'slawn awallya')

In Ireland, "slán abhaile" often appears on signs on roads leaving a town or village.^[2] It is on official signs encouraging drivers to drive safely from town to town.

In Northern Ireland, the phrase has also appeared on many Irish Republican murals, as an ironic farewell to the British Armed Forces, the ending of whose presence was a major goal of Irish Republicanism.^[3]

References

^ Terence Patrick Dolan (2006). A Dictionary of Hiberno-English: The Irish Use of English. Terence Patrick Dolan. pp. 1–. ISBN 978-0-7171-4039-8. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
^ B. Gerad O'Brien (1 September 2003). Dreamin' Dreams: A Collection of Short Irish Stories. iUniverse. pp. 104–. ISBN 978-0-595-29057-4. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
^ Neil Jarman (1 May 1997). Material Conflicts: Parades and Visual Displays in Northern Ireland. Berg. pp. 246–. ISBN 978-1-85973-129-1. Retrieved 22 April 2012.

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[Dolan2006-1] Terence Patrick Dolan (2006). A Dictionary of Hiberno-English: The Irish Use of English. Terence Patrick Dolan. pp. 1–. ISBN 978-0-7171-4039-8. Retrieved 22 April 2012.

[O'Brien2003-2] B. Gerad O'Brien (1 September 2003). Dreamin' Dreams: A Collection of Short Irish Stories. iUniverse. pp. 104–. ISBN 978-0-595-29057-4. Retrieved 22 April 2012.

[Jarman1997-3] Neil Jarman (1 May 1997). Material Conflicts: Parades and Visual Displays in Northern Ireland. Berg. pp. 246–. ISBN 978-1-85973-129-1. Retrieved 22 April 2012.

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