Quote:
Originally Posted by VFR750
Anyone else out there trying to learn, read/write, and speak Irish?
I’m trying, but its hard! Pronunciation and V-S-O sentence structure is tricky.
Where do you find someone to practice with?
COVID shutdown many local clubs, and classes are not readily available nearby.
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As a born and bred Irishman, living there from 61 to 98, I can shed some light. When my mother was in school (she’s 84) all subjects were taught in Gaeilge. She became a teacher btw. When I went to school, 66-78 it was mandatory to learn it. It was part of every exam, as a language.
I’m from Dublin. The name is a derivative/Anglicized version of the Gaeilge Dubh Linn (pronounced Dove linn) the Gaeilge name for “black (dubh) pool (linn)” , a big dark pool formed by the co-joining of two rivers in the area. The Vikings were visiting Ireland at the time also and called it black pool. In fact many Irish town and place names are (anglicized) versions of the original Gaeilge. Any town/city in Ireland named Bally…something is from the Gaeilge Baile meaning village or township. There are also many town with Kill in them (Kilkenny). Stems from Gaeilge coill meaning hill, mound or coil meaning
Today Gaeilge is not a mandatory subject in school. It’s rarely used anymore save for the west coast and Islands off there. However there is a Gaeilge language news broadcast everyday on tv and there are a few Gaeilge radio shows. It’s a dying language. It’s different from a Scottish Gaeilge and not even close to Welsh native language (think Swahili).
At sixty I can still understand it, but speaking it not so much. My French is better than my Gaeilge these days.