Dia linn go deo

From The Oige Keane Memorial Wiki

Dia linn go deo ("dia linn gah dough") is an Irish saying meaning May God be with us forever. This statement concluded the family's statement and was said at the end of the memorial service to Oige (Oige's uncle Spencer asked to crowd to chant the phrase before exiting the church).

The use of the phrase is also seen in the autobiography of Éamon Kelly of Sliabh Luachra. The following is an excerpt from said volume, The Journeyman, published in 1998 by Marino Books:

Listeners often joined in with words of encouragement during the story such as ‘Maith thú !’ (‘Good on you!’). On his uttering a truism they’d say ‘Is fíor dhuit!’ (‘True for you!’). Or telling of some terrible tragedy someone’d say, ‘Dia linn go deo!’ (‘God be with us forever!’). When the storyteller made a very telling point the audience would all chorus, ‘Go mba slán an seanchaí !’ (‘May the storyteller prosper!’).

Dia linn go deo was also said at the site where Oige's body was found during a small family ceremony and offering of prayer flags.