Hello members! I am newbie and want to learn more about Ireland and Irish. Please help me out.
In William Trevor short story - Lost Ground, a Reverend was explaining to his brother.

"A young fellow would have certain thoughts, the Reverend Cutcheon explained. It was the way of things that a young fellow could become confused, owing to the age he was and the changes that had taken place in his body."

Please someone explain for me the meaning of bold words.
Further more, if someone have read this story, please explain what is meaning of the story title: Lost Ground.
Thanks.

It was the way of things - That's how things are. That is how it happens.

I haven't read the story.
Lost ground - I think it means to "fall behind", either literally or figuratively.

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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.
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These make sense to me.

Redwolf

Thanks for your thought. The story is about conflict between the Protestant and the Catholic in a village which leads to a death of one youngster. I am still not quite sure if "fall behind" matchs with that.

To really understand the meaning of the title one would have to read the story. T gain ground would mean to advance. Lost ground means to retreat or fall behind, Just guessing but if the 2 groups were coming closer to agreement or friendship and some event caused friction they could be said to have lost ground.

The phrase "it was the way of things" isn't particularly Irish -- I'm sure you'd see similar stuff from Trevor's contemporaries on the other side of the Irish Sea.

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A language belongs to its native speakers, and when you speak it, you are a guest in their homes.
If you are not a good guest, you have no right to complain about receiving poor hospitality.

I can't see how these are difficult to decipher particularly as the OP seems to have good English

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He may have excellent English but to a non-native speaker idioms and colloquialisms are difficult. Same as school Irish and native speaker

You can also "lose ground" to an enemy in war, I suppose....

Also, "losing ground" is the opposite of "gaining ground", which is a way of saying "making progress". It might refer to disagreements as a regression in society.

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A language belongs to its native speakers, and when you speak it, you are a guest in their homes.
If you are not a good guest, you have no right to complain about receiving poor hospitality.