DIa daoibh,

I'm reading through Beirt Bhan Misniúil le Pádraic Ó Conaire i Scothscéalta and i've noticed (well at least I think I have) a trend;

"dúirt sé gur cheap sé nár rugadh mac riamh thug gean níos dílse ná an gean thug Riocard don tseanbhean mhaorga bhí os mo chomhair amach."

I'm assuming it is dialect? I had to have a second look when I didn't see "a" before "thug" and "bhí"

GRMA

In the olden days the direct relative particle was often omitted. Lenition and/or relative verb forms were sufficient.
in fact, the modern direct relative particle "a" is a quite recent re-invention.

go raibh maith agat a Labhráis, an-spéisiúil ar fad