'Bhí sí uafásach tinn' = 'She was awfully sick' is a more interesting way to express very ill than an-tinn (very sick) or an-an-tinn or an-an-an-tinn or an-an-an-an-an-an.....
It has raised another question for me. In Ireland, we often use the word 'awful' when there is nothing at all awful about the situation. Mar shampla, 'Thanks very much; you are awful good.' (we don't even usually say 'awfully') That means, 'Thanks very much' you are very good'. It must sound very peculiar unless you are familiar with it.
I am wondering if there is an origin from Gaeilge or has it come from somewhere else entirely?

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We use it in that manner in America also. Actually, I believe the adjective "awful" properly means "inspiring awe." I think the use of it to mean something bad is the colloquialism (I may be mistaken though; I'm pre-coffee).

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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.

That makes perfect sense. I should have thought a bit before I typed that question! I sometimes confuse brain usage and this forum Grma!

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Isn't that how iontach is used? though it's more Uladh than anything else, I believe - powerful

Yes, "awful" originally meant "inspiring awe" (you'll see it used that way in older writings), but it really doesn't mean that anymore..."awesome" has taken its place for that usage.

Redwolf

I use 'iontach' deas etc. I have only recently come across the 'uafásach tinn' etc and liked it. I presume we do not use 'uafásach' in a positive way in Irish ie the 'awe' doesn't transfer.

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That's an example of how words change in meaning over time. I think it was a critic admiring St. Paul's cathedral in London (which Christopher Wren designed after the fire) with the praise that it was "contrived, artificial, and awful", and all three words have changed to pejorative meanings since then (at least in some contexts).

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I'm not a native (or entirely fluent) speaker, so be sure to wait for confirmations/corrections, especially for tattoos.

uafásach - often pronounced as ua_sach, in Conamara at least.

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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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When used before an adjective, "iontach" simply means "very" in Ulster.

You can also say (in some places) "millteanach", which hasn't a negative meaning, I heard "bhí sé millteanach maith" = it was fantastic (literally, it was terribly good/horribly good).

I never heard or read "uafásach maith" so far. I think "uafásach" really means "uafásach", normally

However, I learnt that Connemara people would say things like "bhí an t-uafás daoine ann" (there were loads of people there, literally "there was the horror of people there").

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

We do indeed.

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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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