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value. The only function of the a seems to be to denote in writing the separation of the two distinct sounds of “i.”
| sriain | riain | sciain |
| ḃriain | ’liaimín |
(a) In Munster, diaiḋ, and all the phrases got from this word, are usually pronounced dí-eg—e.g., i ndiaiḋ=i ní-eg.
UAI.
'117. The sound of this trigraph is usually “ú-i,” the i getting its unstressed value; but the sound “ú-e” is also heard.
| cuain | fuair | fuaim |
| uair | nuair | suain |
(a) In Ulster and Connaught uai followed by ḋ or ġ is pronounced ú-í (like “ewy” in “dewy”). In Munster the i would not be usually lengthened in such a case, but the ḋ or ġ would be sounded as g.
cruaiḋ, uaiġ, nuaiḋ, buaiḋ, ċuaiḋ.
(b) In the words smuain, smuainte, smuainim, &c., the uai=uí (u being a mere glide). They are now usually written smaoin, smaointe, &c.
EOI.
118. This trigraph in Connaught and Munster has always the sound of ó preceded and followed by a
