Going for messages

Posted by David FG on September 22, 2009 at 17:49

In Reply to: Going for messages posted by Victoria S Dennis on September 20, 2009 at 10:57:

: : There is a phrase that some people in Ireland, particularly the older generation use to describe going to the shop for groceries, they say they are 'going for messages'. One of our neighbours in Ireland, a ninety two year old retired farmer was talking, when we were there last, of times when people were very poor, he said "They didn't even have enough to go for messages."
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: : Does anyone know the origin of this phrase being used in this context?

: Which part of Ireland? Much of Northern Ireland in particular was much settled by Scots since the 16th century, and I've certainly encountered "message" used to mean "errand", specifically "trip to the shop" in Scotland. E.g. you say to a child "I want you to do me a message at the baker's". Presumably, originally you sent someone with a message to the shopkeeper (e.g. "Mam says two loaves please and she'll settle up on Friday"); then the meaning of "message" was transferred to the whole errand; and lastly to the goods that were bought on such an errand. (VSD)

I think it's much more common in the North of Ireland, but I have heard it across much of the island - including my own native County Cork in the far South West - though generally among the older members of the population.

I think it is dying out: I suspect through a combination of affluence and the fact that shopping is now done almost exclusively by adults who have driven to an 'out-of-town' shopping centre, rather than by children running to the corner shop for their mothers.

DFG