Plan your visit

Museum of Literature Ireland
Open today, 10:30-18:00
buy tickets

Find us

UCD Naughton Joyce Centre
86 St Stephen's Green
Dublin 2 view map

RadioMoLI

A digital radio station
for Irish literature
tune in

Damhán alla (Spider)

Spreading the Words

3'28"

The Irish term for a spider has long been a source of puzzlement.
Can it really mean ‘little wild ox’ or is damhán alla just a corruption of the insect’s real name? Listen now for at least some of the answers…

‘Spreading the Words’ is a series on the histories of Irish words from literature and everyday life written by Sharon Arbuthnot and Máire Ní Mhaonaigh and produced in association with the book A History of Ireland in 100 Words and the electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language.

Read by Aidan O’Sullivan.

Keep Listening


This site uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience. See our privacy policy.