'Tis grand: 'It is beyond time the great service of this word was acknowledged and honoured by us grateful if still indomitable Irish for its consistent and ongoing service'. Without doubt the hardest working word in Irish-English has to be “grand”. For who wants to recall the speed at which time is passing, even as all remains, well, grand? “The question is,” said Alice (poor Alice), “whether you can make words mean so many different things." And yet, though its meaning rests entirely with the person using it, the one listening understands perfectly what is meant, context being all.

Source: The Irish Times March 30, 2026 07:04 UTC