I'm trying to think of English words that can reliably traced to Irish (I know that there are a lot of words or phrases that people have speculated about, but I'm most interested in those for which we can be certain of some validity). Right now, all I can think of are:

Galore (from go leor)

Smithereens (from smidiríní)

Whiskey (from uisce beatha)

Slew (from slua)

I know there are more, but I'm drawing a blank.

Also, does anyone know how reliable the theory that "smashing" derives from "is maith sin" is?

GRMA

Redwolf

Bard, slogan, gulp,Baltimore.

Aside from "bard" (I should have known that one!), can you tell me what Irish words/phrases these come from (that's something I'd want to include)? And are we sure they came from Irish (well, again, other than "bard," which definitely did). There's so much speculation in this area, I want to stick to things for which the the origin is pretty verifiable.

Redwolf

I read or heard somewhere that galore came from French!

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Please wait for corrections/ more input from other forum members before acting on advice

Nah, definitely go leor. It's in Oxford as "ORIGIN Irish go leor (Gaelic gu leòr) to sufficiency." (SOED)

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WARNING: Intermediate speaker - await further opinions, corrections and adjustments before acting on my advice.
My "specialty" is Connemara Irish, particularly Cois Fhairrge dialect.
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), agus Gaeilge an Chaighdeáin Oifigiúil (CO).

Some others ranging from the obscure/archaic/bizarre to the uncertain/unknown/maybe/possible/probably not/whatever you're havin' yourself.

Gleann / Glen
Loch / Lough
Slog / Slug / Gulp
Fáinne / Phoney
Mart / Cow / Ox
Gearran / Garron
Barróg / Brogue
Bróg / Brogue
Sgráth / Scraw
Tóiridhe / Tory / Outlaw
Broc / Brock / Badger
Poitín / Poteen
Hooligan / ?
Hooley / ?

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Please wait for corrections/ more input from other forum members before acting on advice

In Dublin they say "mot" for girlfriend or a girl in general, Ive heard tell that it may come from "maith", "mot" being pronounced the same way as "maith". dont know how true the origin is though

A few others which may or may not be known to English speakers in general. The Scots have equal claim to some of them.

Claidheamh mór / Claymore
Carraig / Crag
Capall Coille / Capercaillie
Tarmanach / Ptarmigan
Beinn / Ben
Eisgir / Esker
Drum / Druim / Drumlin
Giolla / Gille
Píobaireachd / Pibroch
Pillín / Pillion
Sparán / Sporran
Srón an t-Sithein / Strontium
Triubhais / trousers / Trews
Sean tighe / Shanty
Bothán / Bothy
Sasanach / Sassenach
Bean sidhe / Banshee
Cailín / Coleen
Duilleasg / Dulse
Caoine / Keen
Leipreachán / Leprechaun
Seamróg / Shamrock
Síol Éalaigh / Shillelagh
Slíbhín / Sleeveen
Céilidhe / Ceilidh
Clann / Clan
Luimneach / Limerick

I've heard more down thru' the years, if I could remember them.

These are great, folks! Some I knew, but couldn't think of at the top of my head last night, others are new to me.

As most of the readers at this juncture are Americans, I'll probably stick to English terms they'd be likely to be familiar with, but there's a lot of those there to work with! GRMA!

Redwolf