I've been fooling around with some steampunk silliness in an online game (Guns of Icarus), and while my broken Gaeilge can produce terms such as "inneall gaile" for steam engine and "gloiní cosanta práis" for brass goggles...
However, the best (worst? ) of my abilities cannot begin to find a translation for "airship," "zeppelin," "blimp," "dirigible" or anything similar. Can anyone help with this? I thought perhaps "instiúrtha" for "dirigible" but am not confident.

Also, what would the prefix be, for a ship name? I know the Irish Navy currently designates ships "LÉ" for "Long Éireannach," (for example LÉ Emer) How would this change if the Emer was a dirigible instead of an ocean-going vessel?

Any help is appreciated.

Focal.ie says "balún instiúrtha" for "dirigible"

I'd say - bád aeir or long aeir

I don't know about the prefix, I suppose that would depend on whether you use balún or long.

_________________
___________________________________________________________

It is recommended that you always wait for three to agree on a translation.
I speak Connemara Irish, and my input will often reflect that.
I will do an mp3 file on request for short translations.
___________________________________________________________

The three dictionaries 'Focal.ie', 'An Foclóir Nua', and 'De Bhaldraithe' all give "aerlong" for "airship". "Bád aeir" seems to be in wide use too, and De Bhaldraithe actually has it in an example sentence.

And would the Irish air force or navy have any of yon yokes?

Wouldn't it be an tAer Lingus ?

Zeppelin would stay the same. It is a person's name perhaps the inventor

ooh! I like the sound of Bád aeir... Air boat, yes? Actually closer to the intent. And thanks for the help!

Funnily enough in Munster Árthach Spéireach = Aeroplane (literally: Sky Vessel).

_________________
The dialect I use is Cork Irish.
Ar sgáth a chéile a mhairid na daoine, lag agus láidir, uasal is íseal

aerárthach = aircraft

I notice your initial suggestions were 'two word'/'noun + genitive noun' forms as opposed to a compound word form like Aerlong.
Do the 'two word' forms feel more natural or correct to you as a native speaker, or would you feel some (subtle ?) difference in meaning between Long Aeir and Aerlong?

_________________
(SL)(GM)