by Beith » 06 Feb 2007, 18:38
(Cross posted from Scots Gaelic forum 5th Feb 07)
Hi Fitheach,
I dont know if there were older versions of these words but in modern Irish
Gríanstad is a Solstice (old Irish spelling alternative of grían = grén)
Cónocht is equinox
But I haven't come across these mentioned in an Old Irish text (that's not to say they aren't!). There was a thread on this below in this forum and I was discussing with Megli a tract on cosmological lore translated into Irish. There may be mention of those words in there. Megli might be the one to ask as he researches something in this area.
In Gaeilge we spell the seasons as:
Earrach = Spring
Samhradh - Summer
Fómhar = Autumn (foghar as you have above would be "sound")
Geimhreadh = Winter
Best wishes
Beith