The word 'whiskey' comes originally from Irish uisce beatha, literally 'the water of life'. The word has re-entered the language in some areas as fuisce (fwishka), more common in Connacht than elsewhere, and uisce beatha is still the more common form of the word. Poitín (potcheen) is the word for home-made whiskey.

Poitín is made in almost all parts of Ireland, but it has a particularly strong association with Gaeltacht areas. It can be made from potatoes but also from numerous vegetable products, always to a traditional recipe. Its taste tends towards a certain roughness, especially to the unaccustomed drinker, and there are a number of cocktails available. Anything mixed with poitin is called a manglam (especially in Connemara). Poitín must be taken with caution as its effects can be devastating. In any case making it is an offence, with severe penalties! (For a light-hearted history, see In Praise of Poteen by John McGuffin, Appletree Press).

give me two pints of beer please
tabhair dom dha phionta leanna le do thoil
[tawar dum gau finnta lanna, le du hul]

the same again
an rud céanna aris
in rud keyna arish

this is my round
seo mo sheal
shaw mu hyall
or
seal s' agamsa
shall sugumsa

would you like another one?
ar mhaith leat ceann eile?
air woih lyat kyunn ella?

yes (I would)
ba mhaith
bu woih

no (I would not)
nior mhaith
neer woih

would you like a cigarette?
ar mhaith leat toitin?
air woih Iyat tutcheen

he is drunk
ta sé ar meisce
taw shay air meyshka

There are various degrees of inebriation. Here are the Irish words for a few of them:

drunk
ar meisce
air meyshka

very drunk
ar deargmheisce
air jaregveyshka

quite drunk
caoch olta
kayokh aulta

'blind drunk'
caoch olta
kayokh aulta

tipsy
súgach
sooqakh