What determines whether or not you use "na" as opposed to simply putting the second noun in the genetive?

_________________
Táim ag foghlaim Gaelainn na Mumhan

Tá fáilte roim nach aon cheartú!
I am a learner. Any translations offered are practice and should not be used unless confirmed.

"Na" is the article (=the), in the genitive feminine singular or in the genitive plural.

Hata mná = a woman's hat
hata na mná = the hat of the woman

_________________
Is fearr Gaeilg na Gaeltaċta ná Gaeilg ar biṫ eile
Agus is í Gaeilg Ġaoṫ Doḃair is binne

Oh headsmack! I don't know why I didn't figure that out myself! For some reason I've had it in my head that one of the meanings of "na" was "of" (maybe because the first transalation I ever saw was "Ádh na nÉireannach" and I just assumed).

Go raibh maith agut, a Lughaidh. As usual, you provide a concise explanation, which makes things perfectly clear to me. Your examples are most helpful in making it "click" in my head. Togha fir!

_________________
Táim ag foghlaim Gaelainn na Mumhan

Tá fáilte roim nach aon cheartú!
I am a learner. Any translations offered are practice and should not be used unless confirmed.

Ádh na nÉireannach is "the luck of the Irish people"



I'm not sure my explanations are always clear but I'm happy if it was clear this time at least

_________________
Is fearr Gaeilg na Gaeltaċta ná Gaeilg ar biṫ eile
Agus is í Gaeilg Ġaoṫ Doḃair is binne