You don’t need to spend a lot of time thinking about language to realise that it is an enormous tapestry of history, a testament to the interlocking biographies of peoples, events and lands. To think of “purism” in the same sentence as “language” is nothing short of absurd.
Given the intertwining of English and Irish pathways over the centuries, it’s hardly a surprise that language carries the evidence.
St Patrick’s Day is a very good time to reflect on the contribution of Irish to English. Doing precisely this is Emma Taylor in her latest article 18 Everyday English Words That Come from Irish: http://www.accreditedonlinecolleges.com/blog/2012/18-everyday-english-words-that-come-from-irish/ which is made available here with permission. Please read it and enjoy.
Thank you Emma.
Ruth Wajnryb: words woman 
ah – the joy and fascination of language itself w/its many joys and pitfalls. sometimes, a sentence/paragraph seems like a row of pearls which glides thru my hands. at other times, the words in a sentence are like the spikes of a cactus. or a sentence of sweet nothings murmured into the ear of a beloved. language with the sole purpose to cover up, or language which reveals, exposing everything to the brightest of sunlight. then there is the endless delight of playing with words – especially the fun of concocting words out of bits and pieces from different languages which becomes its own insider language.
one shouldn’t try to string words together while on the verge of taking a nap. will edit the above after i am rested…
VAle Great Lady…. your trail has broken the silence.