Hi
Been playing the slide “An Sioda”, and wondering if anyone here would be so kind as to tell me how to pronounce the name. Thanks!
an - (sounds like “Anne”) = of the, about the
síoda (sounds like “show-da”) = fine silk fabric, silks and satins, a silk scarf
Note that different dialects may have different pronunciations. Its always “iffy” giving one pronunciation.
djm
Would I be correct in saying that some dialects have more of a diphthong in the first syllable so that it would sound a bit like ‘she-oda’ but with emphasis more on the ‘o’ still?
Cheers,
DavidG
Could be. Since the likelyhood of running into knowledgable Gaelic speaker is about nil in most places in the world, you can do your best and hope to be corrected later. 
djm
If the fada is on the “I”, wouldn’t it be pronounced “SHE-uh-the”? (using Midwestern USA English pronunciation and spelling)
“awn SHO-de”
With a Minnesoter accent, too, yah?
Ah, so you’ve been. 
Closest.
“On SHE-uh-tha” is about it, given transcription conventions established on this thread.
Síoda na mbó is one of the poetic names for Ireland, conventionally translated as “silk of the kine”, which was the name of a group that Liam O’Flynn played in before Planxty emerged.
There’s also a village in West Clare which bears the beautifully poetic (but, I surmise, rather overstated) name of Labasheeda, the silken bed.
I’ll never forget it… Grand Rapids, beginning of February 1999… it was only cold when I left the TC to drive up… all I had to do was turn left at Duluth, and head up Route 2… of course, I never had to get out of the car on the way, and I’m sure the heater in the rental car was set at about 78 degrees… cup of hot coffee… good radio station, hey, no problem.
Upon arrival, I parked at the Chamber of Commerce, couldn’t have been more than 50 feet to the front door, I pulled on my coat, left it unbuttoned, and opened the car door.
By the time I got inside, my skin was numb. It was a classic scene… the receptionist says to me (as she hears me attempt to move my jaw to speak, and hearing only vague sounds slightly resembling words, “Pretty cold out there for yah, huh?”
“Oh no,” says I - “it’s positively balmy!”
“Well, you shoulda been here last week… the high tempercher was around minus 10.”
I grew up in Duluth, and it is considerably cooler there than in the Twin Cities…Grand Rapids even more so…don’t get me started on International Falls! 
One of the coldest places in Minnesota is named Embarrass. It fits, somehow.
Is that the Duluth where BOB was born. 
Slan,
D.
Who is BOB? I have a friend named Bob Pillsbury who plays whistle and flute who was born in Duluth Minnesota…but I don’t think you are speaking about him…or are you? Or am I just that dense? 
There is only one BOB! (as in DYLAN)
Slan,
D.
…yes, I am that Dense! Yes, it is the same Minnesota, but I thought BOB was born in Hibbing. He wrote the song ‘Went to See the Gypsy’ while staying in the Hotel Duluth. Anyway, I had his aunt Millie as a literature teacher in Highschool.
Really, Joe? I didn’t know you taught literature.
djm
http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/people/A0816510.html
I knew I heard of that place before…
Slan,
D.
…still dense am I. I do know he lived in Hibbing…at some point.
(tears of laughter, case you’re wondering)