Re: the name
in reply to a message by Merriment
The name Eamhair/Emer/Eimear is of ancient celtic origin. All of various pronunciations are nonsense. By adding a fada here there and everywhere does not make the name more authentically celtic. The name has always been pronounced EE mer. Just when the British decided to launch their attack on our culture & heritage, their anglo phonetics unfortunalty infiltrated the spellings of our names, possibly to make it easier for them to read. Hence, Eamhair and Eimear became E-MER. Although, the spelling has changed, the delightful pronunciation has not. As a matter of interest, althought the actual meaning of the word has never been certified, it is said that the lover of Cu Chulann was Eimear & that she was blessed with the six gifts of womanhood; beauty, voice, sweet speech, good with a needle, wisdom and chastity.