_Manners of the Irish_ (Vol. viii., pp. 5. 111.)--A slight knowledge of
Gaelic enables me to supply the meaning of some of the words that have
puzzled your Irish correspondents. _Molchan_ (Gaelic, _Mulachan_) means
"cheese."
"Deo gracias, is smar in Doieagh."
I take to mean "Thanks to God, God is good." In Gaelic the spelling would
be--"is math in Dia." A Roman Catholic Celt would often hear his priest say
"Deo Gratias."
The meaning of the passage seems to be pretty clear, and may be rendered
thus:--The Irish farmer, although in the abundant enjoyment of {280} bread,
butter, cheese, flesh, and broth, is not only not ashamed to complain of
poverty as an excuse for non-payment of his rent, but has the effrontery to
thank God, as if he were enjoying only those blessings of Providence to
which he is justly entitled.