An Talamh Fuar

  Ceanada  

Our home on Native land

As we celebrate our own unbreakable bonds with our heritage, we deeply recognize that in North America we are settlers on Indigenous land, who have benefited from the dispossession of this land’s original inhabitants.

There is a rich tapestry of diverse and beautiful Indigenous cultures celebrated across Turtle Island since time immemorial, with over 60 Indigenous language dialects in Canada alone.

Assimilationist government policies and the continued marginalization of Indigenous peoples in settler society have imposed conditions where every Indigenous language in Canada, apart from Inuktitut, is critically endangered and facing extinction.

As Gaels, and as those who we recognize that we cannot fully celebrate our own culture and language in North America without reflecting on the status of Indigenous people and by supporting language revival and Indigenous rights to health, safety and self-determination.

The Gaeltacht property in Tamworth, Ontario, is part of the traditional territories of the Anishinabewaki (ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᐗᑭ), Wendake-Nionwentsïo, and Mississauga peoples. The land was part of the Upper Canada Land Surrenders, under the Crawford Purchase of 1784. As a purchase, no treaty respecting these lands was signed.

Animals of Canada

Irish speakers who came to Canada had their traditional connections to their native land, connections defined over thousands of years of habitation, severed. Transplanted to foreign shores, the Irish forged new bonds with the Canadian environment around them. This is the fascinating folklore surrounding the ten most significant animals found in Canada.

Click to learn about our most iconic animals

More Animals

  • Bluebird (Eastern) - Gorméan

    Bluejay - Scréachóg ghorm (blue screecher), An tÉan Gorm

    Cardinal - Éan Cairdinéalach (cardinal bird), An tÉan Dearg (the bright red bird)

    Chickadee (Black-capped) - Meantán

    Crane - Corr

    Crow - Préachán, Badhbh

    Dove (Mourning) - Colm Bróin (dove of sorrow), Colm Caointe (lamenting bird)

    Finch (House) - Glasán (small grey one)

    Goldfinch (American) - Lasair Choille (flame of the woods), Buíán óir (yellow-gold one), Coinnleoir Muire (Holy Mary’s Candle-bearer)

    Goose (Canada) - Gé Ceanadach (Canadian goose), Fiaghé (wild goose)

    Goose (Grey) - Gé Glas (grey goose)

    Hummingbird (Ruby-throated, rufous) - Dordéan (droning bird)

    Mallard - Mallard

    Martin - Gabhlán

    Merganser - Tumaire (diver), Lacha Crainn (tree duck)

    Merlin - Meirliún

    Nuthatch - Cnóshnag (nut gripper)

    Oriole (Baltimore) - Óiréal Bhaile an Tí Mhóir (Oriole of Baltimore)

    Osprey - Iascaire Coirneach, An tÉan Fionn

    Owl - Ulchabhán, Cailleach Oíche (old hag of the night)

    Owl (Barn) - Scréachóg Reilige (screecher of the graveyard)

    Owl (Snowy) - Ulchabhán Sneachta (owl of the snow)

    Peregrine - Seabhac Seilge (foreign hawk), Fabhcún Gorm (blue falcon)

    Petrel - Guairdeall, Peadairín na Stoirme (Little Peter of the Storm), Éan an Anró (bird of adverse weather)

    Pigeon - Colm Carraige (rock dove), Colúr

    Plover - Feadóg (whistler), Pilibín (little Phillip)

    Ptarmigan - Tarmachan (croaker), Éan an tSneachta (bird of the snow)

    Raven - Fiach, Bran

    Robin (American) - Spideog, Broinndeargán (red-breast)

    Sparrow (House, Song) - Gealbhan Binne / Sciobóil / Tí (bright on of the roof / barn / house)

    Starling - Druid

    Waxwing - Sciathán Céarach (wing of wax), Síodeiteach (silken wing)

    Woodpecker (Downy, Hairy, Pileated, Red-bellied) - Cnagaire (knocker), Snag Darach (grasper of oak)

    Wren (House) - Dreoilín

  • Arctic Char - Ruabhreac (ruddy speckled one)

    Bass - Bas, Doingean

    Catfish - Cat Mara (cat of the sea)

    Cod - Trosc

    Haddock - Cadóg

    Halibut - Haileabó

    Pike - Liús

    Salmon - Bradán, Eo

    Sturgeon - Bradán Fearna

    Trout - Breac (speckled one)

  • Bobcat - Bobchat

    Caribou - Réinfhia, Carabú

    Chipmunk - Iora talún (ground squirrel)

    Cougar - Cúgar, Leon Sléibhe

    Coyote - Cadhóit

    Deer - Fia

    Elk - Eilc, Fia mór

    Fisher - Polchat, Toghán, Cat coille (forest cat)

    Fox (Arctic) - Sionnach an tsneachta (fox of the snow)

    Gopher - Gófar póca

    Groundhog - Úitseach (Woodchuck)

    Lemming - Vól (Vole)

    Lynx - Lincse, Onchú (Warrior dog)

    Marmot - Marmat, Luch shléibhe (Mountain rodent)

    Musk Ox - Muscdhamh

    Opossum - Apasam

    Otter - Madra uisce, dobharchú

    Pine Marten - Cat crainn (tree cat)

    Porcupine - Torcán craobhach (forest boar), Gráinneog Mhór (great hedgehog)

    Prairie Dog - Marmat Machaire, Luch mhachaire (rodent of the plains)

    Racoon Racún - Mathúin Níte (washing bear)

    Sea-Lion - Rón Mór (great seal)

    Skunk - Scunc, Bréantadán (stinker)

    Squirrel (Black / Grey / Red) - Iora Dubh / Glas / Rua

    Walrus - Rón Mór (great seal), Rosualt (from Norse horse-whale)

    Wolverine - Glutan (from English glutton)

  • Aphid - Aifid

    Blackfly - Cuil Dhubh

    Centipede - Céadchosach

    Frog (Leopard) - Frog breac

    Horsefly - Beach Each (Horse Bee), Doctúir

    Mayfly - Cuil Bhealtaine

    Millipede - Mílechosach

    Mosquito - Muiscít

    Rattlesnake - Nathair Shligreach

    Turtle (Painted) Turtar Daite

    Turtle (Snapping) - Turtar Sclamhach