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?

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.

Lecturer at uni once compared this to Kinder getting an -n to become Kindern.
Apparently the root is in German. 1 child, 1 Kind. 2 Kinder, 2 childer, in particular case 2 kindern, 2 childern. Standard English changed to keep children as the standard plural, and lost childer. Possibly a dialect heavily influenced by the Germanic roots?

Like brother/ brethren. That matches up too.

My mums generation always referred to "childer", I have heard wean as well in Co Down

I've heard of childer but not wean.Im in Dublin.

Derry relative says this

Only person l hear saying it is from Donegal. Im in the midlands and no one woould say it. Few friends from Kerry and no they wouldn't either. That is annoying.

Wee-un, wain or childer are phrases I’ve heard growing up in NI.

Born and raised in Kerry. Wean is never used in Kerry. Childer is more a Dublin phrase, never heard that being used either.

In Kerry we're very boring. We use either children or the Irish version buachailli agus cailini (boys and girls).

My granny would have used that sometime whos, usually more for an adult man she'd feel pity for. I always thought it was a broader way to say creature...