Ao
1. The sound of ao is like (2) a, long: as, caora a sheep, faobhar the edge of a tool, saothair labour.
Ea
The sound of ea is either made up of the sounds of both the vowels, or like that of one of them.
1. Made up of (2) e and (1) a: e very short, a long, as, beann a summit, pinnacle, feall deceit; a short, as, meal to enjoy, speal a scythe.
Before a Lingual or a Palatal, not quiescent, the a frequently loses its sound, and only qualifies that of the following consonant; hence,
2. Like (1) e, long: as, dean do; short, as, fear a man, bean a woman.
3. Like (2) e, long: as, easlan sick; short, as, fead whistle.
After a Lingual or a Palatal, not quiescent, the e loses its sound, and only qualifies that of the preceding consonant; hence,
4. Like (1) a, long: as, cèard an artificer; short, as, geal white.
5. Like (3) a, short: as, itheadh eating, coireach faulty.