Ireland: The A-Z Irish Glossary - 'Q' is for 'Quare'
'Quare'
A rural pronunciation of the word Queer but with a completely different meaning. In old Irish usage the word had no homosexual connotations.
The Irish meaning is 'very' or 'extremely'. Generally it is something that is noticeable, remarkable or exceptional. Can also be the equivalent to the word "quite" in most instances.
Does not mean great, as it can be used in a negative sense, ie. this funeral is quare depressing.
The weather was quare cold.
That woman is quare fine.
This word can also be an Ulster-ism, a colloquial word used almost exclusively by either old people or spides in Northern Ireland - a 'spide' being a pejorative stereotype in Belfast of a person that has a particular dress code and attitude - usually refers to young, unemployed male adults. Another example.."Being on the dole is quare crap!"