Hi everyone,

"Oíche na stumpaí" seems to be the concensus on how to render "stag night" into Irish (www.focal.ie, and many other sources).

But does anyone know what "stumpa/stumpaí" means really? Ó Dónaill lists the following as a (very) secondary meaning of the word:

2. (pl.) stumpers, dancers (at a stag-dance).

Come to think of it, now I'm doubting my understanding of the English term. I always just assumed that "stag" was in reference to the male deer, a young strong buck - whose connotations were fitting for a man spending his last night as an unmarried man. But now I'm starting to doubt even that!

Can anyone help?

(Understanding the origin of the phrase is important to me, as there is a much greater chance that I'll remember it if I can figure this out).

Years ago, going stag to a dance or party meant without a date. Possibly some sort of mixer. I've never heard of "stag night", Usually, taking the prospective groom out was referred to as a "stag party" meaning men only

Shorter Oxford gives both "stag night" and "stag party".

A "party" sounds like something held at one venue, though an older meaning would be a group of people, possibly moving around.

Usually on a "stag night" the boys (purportedly "friends") take the groom out on the town and try to get him into trouble.

Focal gives cóisír na stumpaí for "stag party" and oíche na stumpaí for "stag night".

Dinneen has a meaning of "dolt" (i.e., idiot) for stúmpa maybe it should be oíche na stúmpaí "night of the idiots"?

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Múinteoir Gaeilge - Irish Teacher
My "specialty" is Connemara Irish, particularly Cois Fhairrge dialect, but I can also speak Ulster and Munster Irish with native-level pronunciation.
Is fearr Gaeilge ḃriste ná Béarla cliste, cinnte, aċ i ḃfad níos fearr aríst í Gaeilge ḃinn ḃeo na nGaeltaċtaí.
Gaeilge Chonnacht (GC), go háraid Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge (GCF), Gaeilic Uladh (GU), Gaelainn na Mumhan (GM), agus Gaeilge an Chaighdeáin Oifigiúil (CO).

It wouldn't have anything to do with staimpaí by any chance? It's the name of a very special potato and the title of a song that Cran play?

Around here "stúmpa" is a slang word that means "hunk"/"good looking".

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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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oíche na stúmpaí "night of the hunks"

I like it.

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Múinteoir Gaeilge - Irish Teacher
My "specialty" is Connemara Irish, particularly Cois Fhairrge dialect, but I can also speak Ulster and Munster Irish with native-level pronunciation.
Is fearr Gaeilge ḃriste ná Béarla cliste, cinnte, aċ i ḃfad níos fearr aríst í Gaeilge ḃinn ḃeo na nGaeltaċtaí.
Gaeilge Chonnacht (GC), go háraid Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge (GCF), Gaeilic Uladh (GU), Gaelainn na Mumhan (GM), agus Gaeilge an Chaighdeáin Oifigiúil (CO).

That's definitely going in the notebook!

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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.

Thanks Bríd, I think you've cracked it.

Forgive the late response.

But could you tell me to what dialect/area you are referring to?

B.

Conamara.

But like I said it is slang.
So it is probably a modern meaning to an older word.
When said about a women it can also mean curvy. Stúmpa breá go bhean. Which has the more traditional meaning. It is pronounced like ú.

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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.
___________________________________________________________

....with a suitable picture to accompany it - to help to reinforce the learning, of course.

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