lá breá

• IPA^(key): /l̪ˠɑː bʲɾʲɑː/

lá breá

1. (slang, Corca Dhuibhne) an Irish learner visiting a Gaeltacht area
   • 2018 September 19, Seosaimhín Ní Bheaglaoich, Is breá iad na foghlaimeoirí Gaeilge gur mór acu an teanga atá againne ón gcliabhán – Tuairisc.ie‎^[1]:

     Is mór an seó iad na Laethanta Breátha a thagann inár measc. Sin é an t-ainm a bhí ag na seandaoine go léir ar chuairteoirí a thagadh anseo fadó a’ foghlaim mar ná raibh acu ach an ‘Lá breá!’ nuair a chasaidís ort. Bail orthu.

     The “Lovely Days” who come among us are big fun. That’s the name that all the old people used for visitors who used to come here long ago to learn as they spoke only ‘Lá breá!’ [ie. ‘Lovely day!’] when they happened upon you. Bless them.

This exists as a regular phrase meaning a fine day or a lovely day, eg.

• bhí Máire lá breá ag siúlóid

  one fine day Máire was on a walk

but it’s generally not used on its own as a greeting in Gaeltacht communities.

The phrase started to refer to learners by mocking those of them who calqued the use of lovely day as a greeting from English.