Hi friends,
First, for those who have been so helpful with my other (first!) post, I thank you so much!!!
I'm writing a novel, set in 1820's Western Ireland. (Yeah, I know. Good luck with that! I've been told that the Irish like nothing less than an "American writer of Irish descent" writing a novel set in Ireland. But I've had loads of help from NUI Galway on the history part, and some friends in Galway for other stuff, but haven't found someone there for the Irish language part.)
Here is a line in my novel that I'm looking for help on. The line is:
Widow O’Rooney began ag caoineadh, a high-pitched keening lament for the dead that accompanied all wakes.

I suspect I don't have the right Irish conjugation for that sentence. What I want to say is, Widow O’Rooney began [Irish words for -- a keening ceremony] OR [Irish words for -- a keening cry], a high-pitched keening lament for the dead that accompanied all wakes.

Can anyone help? I am grateful!
XO
Jenny

"Ag caoineadh" is correct, but it seems odd coming in the middle of an English sentence. Normally, if you're speaking English, you'd just say "keening" (especially as you use that word later in the sentence).

It's much more usual for Irish speakers to throw a bit of English into a sentence than the reverse.

BTW, "ag caoineadh" can also simply mean "crying"

Redwolf

The Irish sentence would be:
Thosnaigh baintreach Uí Ruanaidh ag caoineadh. = Widow O’Rooney began keening.
so you have it right.

The Engish term keening is of course of Irish orign. (caoin = lament, keen cry, weep)