Comment by Gerard Cappa on August 6, 2013 at 1:41pm

Jacqueline

I think I saw it on the Cairde Teo. facebook a while ago.

Comment by Rónán Gearóid Ó Domhnaill on August 8, 2013 at 9:49am

beatha an teanga í a labhairt

Comment by mickey mcadden on August 8, 2013 at 10:42pm

Interesting views of the language after nearly a century of Dr Hyde's utopia. Funny thing, more people in Ireland learned the language before Dev & Co got to making it compulsory than after.

Somewhat like the music, it did not need to be saved! C.C.E. today is doing more damage than good to Ireland's folk music by leveling it down to the lowest common denominator, and erasing regional styles. Say nothing about foreigners who have no connection with Ireland, nor any intention of such, making hay with it.

As for Mr Ryan O'Rourke's view on us, tut tut!

My parents were born in, and therefore are citizens, of Great Britain, never mind that most of my ancestors are mixed, Scottish, English and the rest of it.

British by blood, as well as where my heart will always be, so if you don't mind Sir, pog mo t'asal, West Brit and proud of it. Course that's not to say half of mo thoin isn't a tricolor, it is, but the other half is the Union Jack.

The language, like the music, will survive in the home. I learned most of what I now know from hanging around with native speakers overseas like myself, the bits that were beaten into me at school in Dev's banana republic I have mostly forgotten.

But like the Greeks we speak the language of another more powerful culture, and sure what's wrong with that? Can not we adapt to use both? Can not we allow to continue what has been going on this past several hundred years? The natural melding of Gaelge, Cwmraig, English and a bit of French?

Last point, what is the use of wasting Irish students time with an Gaelge when they will the most of them end up in English speaking lives in Australia, or the USA, or the UK? Should we not spend that time instead teaching the linguistics? Combination classes with basics in Madarin, Russian, Arabaic, Turkish, Spanish etc World languages for the prospective emigrant?

My 10 cents.

Comment by Ryan O'Rourke on August 9, 2013 at 1:57am

Mickey ...

It seems you misunderstand the term "West Brit."  We call people who live in Ireland but wish they lived in the U.K. (and perhaps desire to see Ireland adapt more of the British culture) "West Brits."  I'm fairly certain I wasn't describing your situation.

Comment by Rónán Gearóid Ó Domhnaill on August 9, 2013 at 4:25am

you also have Unionist or Southern Unionist, a  crowd who rarely raise their head above the parapet. 

The Celtic Tiger saw the birth of American wannabes- young Irish people who thought Ireland was LA and aped the language and customs of TV shows such as 'The OC' as best they could. Unfortunately they made it onto out airwaves.  

The Irish are second only to the British in being unable to learn any continental language. At most a secondary school student will learn a smattering of the language he studies for six years and the curriculum is being dumbed down all the time.

Comment by Rose Maurer on August 9, 2013 at 7:21am

Indeed, the future of any country lies in it's young - and how better to ensure the continuation of Gaelige than through music. However, the written language is another story for foreigners like myself! Perhaps Bit Devine can give us some tips - I have no idea of how to access the diacritics, of which there are many in the language. I guess I'll have to rely on Google Translate :-(

Comment by Gerard Cappa on August 9, 2013 at 8:31am

Rose

I don't know about opportunities to learn and speak the language where you live, but you can certainly listen to it 24/7 on http://www.raidiofailte.com/listen-live/

A good mix of talk and music, of all genres, from Belfast and beyond.

http://www.raidiofailte.com/

Comment by Bit Devine on August 9, 2013 at 11:36am

Rose,

I have invested in the Rosetta Irish to help me along...

As well, I, like Gerard, tune in to whatever Irish language programs I can locate on the internet

Google translate is good...but sometimes it is rather stilted, as it defaults to the most formal translations as a norm

I use focal.ie as a translating tool, as well 

Of course, if you can swing it, nothing beats a full immersion course over a summer in Ireland ;-)

Gaeilgeoir Comment by Bernie Joyce on August 9, 2013 at 12:14pm

A good way to get into the written language is by reading Irish poetry. Yes you will also need a dictionary beside you but its like solving a puzzle. But the best way to learn is by being around other Irish speakers. 

Comment by Rónán Gearóid Ó Domhnaill on August 9, 2013 at 2:54pm

A good film to watch on the subject is An Gaeilgeoir Nocht (the naked Gaelic speaker) about a man who insists on only speaking Irish.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b47DF4NwIyw  

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