Jesus Does Not Want You To End Up In Hel(sinki)

I was at a Christian music festival, and one of the bands was Irish. They were selling a t-shirt with the phrase “Tá sé críochnaithe” on it. As soon as I saw it, I excitedly bought it because I had just completed my second level of Irish (language) class, so I was happy I could translate it.

“Tá sé críochnaithe” means “It is finished”, which is a quote from the Gospel of John in the Bible as one (of several) of Jesus’s last phrases before He died on the cross. 

I wore that shirt quite a bit that summer. One day, my family and I were at a restaurant. After our meal, our server came back with the bill, and he asked:

Server: “What is last on your shirt?”

Me: *A soft-spoken woman in a crowded, loud venue responded.* “It is finished.”

Server: “What language is it in?” 

Me: “Irish.”

Server: “Huh… that’s… unique.”

And he walked away with a puzzled look on his face.

My dad asked me later to clarify what my shirt said. I told him the translation with the context. He sighed an “ohhhhh” and informed me that at the restaurant, it sounded like I had said it is “Finnish” in Irish. 

While I thought my original shirt and translation were unique, I agree. “Finnish” in Irish would be… unique.