Learn Irish
You'll find yourself immersed in a cultural richness that goes beyond tourist stereotypes. It's an invitation to be welcomed as part of a community, with a genuine understanding of the language and its people. Embark on a journey of learning, and embrace the beauty and the uniqueness of the Irish language.
“Deir daoine éigin gurab baois é agus caitheamh aimsire, Gaeilge a fhoghlaim in America … ach tá mórán de nithe san gcruinne seo níos fearr ná airgead. Sílimid go bhfuil onóir, meas, agus grá-eolais, níos mó ná airgead.”
Some people say that it is a folly and a waste of time to learn Irish in North America … but there are many things in this world greater than money. We think that honour, respect, and love of knowledge are greater than money.
Patrick Donahoe, Boston, 1879
How to Learn
Beochuraclam Uilíoch Gaeilge
Beochuraclam Uilíoch Gaeilge is based on the Universal Speed Curriculum, a collection of techniques for rapidly creating fluent speakers and teachers of endangered languages. It is a conversational curriculum composed of questions and answers between two people and embodies the most basic conversation you can have, focusing on immersion, repetition, and context. It aims to create a dynamic and interactive learning environment to accelerate language acquisition.
Beochuraclam Uilíoch Gaeilge is based on the Universal Speed Curriculum. It is a conversational curriculum composed of questions and answers between two people and embodies the most basic conversation you can have.
Beochuraclam Uilíoch Gaeilge is based on the Universal Speed Curriculum. It is a conversational curriculum composed of questions and answers between two people and embodies the most basic conversation you can have.
Beochuraclam Uilíoch Gaeilge is based on the Universal Speed Curriculum. It is a conversational curriculum composed of questions and answers between two people and embodies the most basic conversation you can have.
Beochuraclam Uilíoch Gaeilge is based on the Universal Speed Curriculum. It is a conversational curriculum composed of questions and answers between two people and embodies the most basic conversation you can have.
Beochuraclam Uilíoch Gaeilge is based on the Universal Speed Curriculum. It is a conversational curriculum composed of questions and answers between two people and embodies the most basic conversation you can have.
Beochuraclam Uilíoch Gaeilge is based on the Universal Speed Curriculum. It is a conversational curriculum composed of questions and answers between two people and embodies the most basic conversation you can have.
Beochuraclam Uilíoch Gaeilge is based on the Universal Speed Curriculum. It is a conversational curriculum composed of questions and answers between two people and embodies the most basic conversation you can have.
Beochuraclam Uilíoch Gaeilge is based on the Universal Speed Curriculum. It is a conversational curriculum composed of questions and answers between two people and embodies the most basic conversation you can have.
Beochuraclam Uilíoch Gaeilge is based on the Universal Speed Curriculum. It is a conversational curriculum composed of questions and answers between two people and embodies the most basic conversation you can have.
Beochuraclam Uilíoch Gaeilge is based on the Universal Speed Curriculum. It is a conversational curriculum composed of questions and answers between two people and embodies the most basic conversation you can have.
Member Learner Guides
Our learner guides are an ongoing project within our community to make helpful resources for people learning Irish at different levels. They provide clear directions on the words and sentences you need to learn in order to improve your language skills. These guides cover important grammar and vocabulary for each level of learning, following the Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge's levels from A1 (level 1) to C (level 5). By using these guides, you can have a clear path to becoming fluent in Irish.
Important Irish grammar and vocabulary for the absolute beginner (Level 1).
Important Irish grammar and vocabulary for the experienced beginner (Level 2).
Important Irish grammar and vocabulary for the new intermediate (Level 3).
Important Irish grammar and vocabulary for the experienced intermediate (Level 4).
Important Irish grammar and vocabulary for continuous learning (Level 5).
Member Guided Readings
Irish mythology is a rich collection of ancient stories and legends that explore the mythical origins of Ireland, featuring gods, heroes, magical creatures, and epic adventures. These tales offer insights into the beliefs, values, and cultural heritage of the Irish people. Our colour-coded version of each story, available to website members, breaks sentences into more manageable pieces and helps you jump into the flow of living Irish, feeling like you have an expert reading along with you!
What to Learn
Most Common Words
In our student guides, we provide a list of the most common Irish words to give learners the most useful words for speaking the language today (modified for this purpose from "Irish Word Frequency - Liosta Minicíochta Focal Gaeilge" by Michal Boleslav Měchura, 2015). This list helps learners know which words are used most often in everyday Irish conversations.
Grammar is important because it helps us organize our words, but without words, grammar alone won't be very helpful. Grammar has a limit, but learning new words is something you'll continue to do throughout your life. If you're just starting to learn Irish, it's a good idea to focus on the first 100 most common words. Our lessons will mostly use these words, so you can see grammar in action without also having to learn vocabulary to understand what is happening.
This list helps learners know which words are used most often in everyday Irish conversations.
This list helps learners know which words are used most often in everyday Irish conversations.
This list helps learners know which words are used most often in everyday Irish conversations.
This list helps learners know which words are used most often in everyday Irish conversations.
This list helps learners know which words are used most often in everyday Irish conversations.
This list helps learners know which words are used most often in everyday Irish conversations.
This list helps learners know which words are used most often in everyday Irish conversations.
This list helps learners know which words are used most often in everyday Irish conversations.
This list helps learners know which words are used most often in everyday Irish conversations.
This list helps learners know which words are used most often in everyday Irish conversations.
This list helps learners know which words are used most often in everyday Irish conversations.
This list helps learners know which words are used most often in everyday Irish conversations.
This list helps learners know which words are used most often in everyday Irish conversations.
This list helps learners know which words are used most often in everyday Irish conversations.
This list helps learners know which words are used most often in everyday Irish conversations.
This list helps learners know which words are used most often in everyday Irish conversations.
This list helps learners know which words are used most often in everyday Irish conversations.
This list helps learners know which words are used most often in everyday Irish conversations.
This list helps learners know which words are used most often in everyday Irish conversations.
This list helps learners know which words are used most often in everyday Irish conversations.
Topical Lessons
There are so many high level, scholastic sources that will tell you in minute detail every tiny part of Irish, but you often need a degree in linguistics to understand any of it - these aren’t designed for regular people who just want to start learning and speaking Irish. If anything, they turn learners off by making things seem impossible to remember and understand.
Our lessons to try and introduce you to the language and culture through interesting and accessible topics. No source is definitive, and everyone learns differently - we hope these lessons help to round out your Irish learning (working along with a good textbook or teacher) and let you to see the simplicity, beauty, and wonder in the Irish language.
We try to provide as many core details for free as possible to help everyone pick up Irish. Each topic has an extended member lesson that gives you extra explanations, examples and activities.
Which colours deserve names varies by culture, depending on what colours are most encountered. Colours may be named and thought of differently depending on what thing is being described - animate or inanimate, shiny or matte, hard or soft, vibrant or dull, the pattern, the texture, or even the contrast between the object and its background! Here, we explore traditional Irish colours.
Expanded Member Lessons
Eclipse - the different places where eclipse happens grammatically in Irish
Lenition - the different places where lenition (softening of consonants) happens grammatically in Irish
Sounds of speech - how we make sounds using our lips, mouth, tongue, nose, and throat
Which colours deserve names varies by culture, depending on what colours are most encountered. Colours may be named and thought of differently depending on what thing is being described - animate or inanimate, shiny or matte, hard or soft, vibrant or dull, the pattern, the texture, or even the contrast between the object and its background! Here, we explore traditional Irish colours.
MILSC Lesson Archive
The MILSC (Montreal Irish Language Study Circle) lesson series was developed by John Donahue and is a large number of pamphlets covering many phrases and topics. Lessons are shared as free downloadable pdfs under gracious permission of the author.
Resources
Free downloadables will be coming soon, such as a Pop-Up Gaeltacht starter pack.
Members have access to grammar printables, pocket guides, and other learner resources.