Irish Mumsnetters: is this term one you'd use?

[TheGirlOnTheLanding]

'Wean' for child?

I'm reading a novel set in 19th century Ireland (by a non-Irish author) and it continually uses wean for child. Every time I see it, it jars, because I thought wean was a specifically West of Scotland term. I've never heard any of the Irish people I know use it, but then thought maybe it's regional and is used in some places (after all, there's been a lot of movement back and forth over the years between the West of Scotland and Ireland, and I know some words are used in both places). Is it a word you'd use or have heard used?

It sounds a bit Northern Irish to me, I hear it in my head as wee 'un.
Not used in the West anyway.

OMG yes, absolutely.
I’m from dublin but live in Belfast and have worked with folk from all over Ulster and it is definitely very much used up here.

Regularly heard here in Northern Ireland. I think it is Ulster Scots. I don't imagine it's used in the other provinces.

Regularly used in Donegal - pronounced ‘wain’. But it’s definitely a Northwest thing.

Northern, not North West!

The thing is, it's set in Co. Kerry - it would make more sense if it was in Ulster. It's a shame because I'm enjoying the book, but it jumps out and bothers me every time and distracts me from the story!

Raised and living in N.I, have heard "wee-uns" before, (also "wee ones").

Definitely an Ulster (but not just NI!) thing. Wee one = wee’un = wain.

I grew up just inside Belfast city limits, and wee ones always seemed more a city phrase, wee-uns more a country saying? Have heard wee lass and wee buck too from Co.Down ones, more likely to hear wee girl or wee boy in the city.

Definitely a NI thing, never heard it in the Republic, except in similar such books! The author and editor clearly are lazy haven't done proper research.

Not just NI I meant Ulster

In NI and wain yes, but not wean. I read wean as "ween".

I've heard "childer" the odd time too. My gran said it, an older gent in work still says it, and have heard it at other random times, but no idea where it comes from.

I read wean as ween too. Like weaning a baby.

Munster here and know a lot of Kerry people and I've never heard it used.

My DF says childer! Belfast slang I think.

There's a childrens' clothing store in Glasgow called Weans World .

No, not used in the republic. I'm SE and have also lived in the South.

Hilariously I once read a book - set in the modern day - where the protagonist referred to her favourite elderly Irish neighbour, who had apparently come to America during the potato famine. She'd be a medical marvel to still be alive

Belfast here- my family say it (like wain) but that’s been picked up from my mum who is a culchie

Wean is in very common usage in Co Antrim, don't know about other parts of Ireland. If you ever drive through Ballymena (admittedly not somewhere you tend to visit unless you have a reason to) it is even engraved into the side of the townhall building as an example of local dialect.

Oh, I might be wrong. Maybe the engraving on the town hall says 'gurning wains', not 'gurning weans'. I'm doubting myself now...

Think we say it a bit like the name "Wayne" (we are in NI). Is "wee" used much in Republic? I thought it was an NI/Ulster Scots thing. Many things are wee here from your phone no to your pin in a shop. Also, if you want a bag or when asked for your name booking something.

Wean or wain. Yes. Would use it. For sure.

Why would,you say that it’s botherimg you?

If its set in Co Kerry then I can see why its very jarring and unlikely.

Still, probably a bit better than a non Irish author having everyone saying 'top of the mornin' to ye' and crap like that

Yes it's used in Donegal most definitely. By my mother's generation. Pronounced to rhyme with pane of glass