Annotations to James Joyce's Ulysses/Cyclops/301

Annotations

Slan leat     (Errata) This should read: Slán leat.

Slán leat     (Irish) Goodbye. In Irish the literal meaning of slán leat is safety with you, or may you go safely. It is a valediction addressed by the person remaining to one who is departing. I am not aware of its ever being used as a drinking toast. The traditional Irish toast is Sláinte, which means Health! It is possible that Joyce is suggesting that the Citizen is not as fluent in the language as he would have us believe. See also 307.35.