Fighting Irish Forums

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1983434,00.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
A writer for the Guardian tries to get around Ireland using Irish only....

Good article, a bit sad though,


Igor

Can you direct me to a sympathetic priest?

An féidir leat mé a dhíriú i dtreo sagart tuiscineach?



It's sad. I was taught Irish for nigh on 12 years and don't remember anything of it.

... or not?

These children were reared on Irish versions of SpongeBob SquarePants and Scooby-Doo on TG4 . They had invented Irish words for X-Box and hip-hop, for Jackass and blog. They were fluent in Irish text-speak and had moulded the ancient pronunciations and syntax in accordance with the latest styles of Buffy-speak and Londonstani slang. I realised it was they I should have turned to for help on the streets. The children filled me with renewed confidence as I left Dublin (...)

As every language also Irish Gaelic must be spoken to stay alive. I remember Greg telling me that the Irish language doesn´t have proper vocabulary so I think it´s a good sign that these students fill this old language with new words.

What else gives a culture a specific background if not a unique language?

Keep it rea... erm .. alive!!!

My aunt looked after me from when I was about 18 months till I was 4 (while my parents were at work) and spoke nothing but Irish to me, so I had to speak it to get anything. All I can remember now is how to say 'Sit down and shut your mouth' and 'how are you'. I've never had any inclination to learn the language properly. A great shame.

What was that Guys?? Get some audio cd's, learn the basics and then go over to the Guinness factory in Dublin at least 6 times this year and practice???!! You're right Goddammit!! I think we all should!

They could learn a thing or two from the Welsh. There is quite a big resurgance in the Welsh language, centered originally and now growing from a cultural origin.

Welsh is a first language for probably 60% of my family and that number is now growing. 30 years ago you could expect a whack across the knuckes and a sign hung around your neck for speaking Welsh in school, now it it is being taught in primary school.

Conversation with my grandfather was limited to a few grunts... he could only speak Welsh and I could only speak English. That was little more than 30 years ago. Though he still kicked me up the arse when I locked him in the wood shed

Use it or lose it

G

If I were looking for Irish, I'd head as far away from the big cities as possible. City folk are an angry stubborn lot.

very good article, thanks for posting!

i do agree with gurkesaft that the article would have been totally different if the writer had gone to a country area i.e. there are very large irish speaking areas around the country e.g. galway, waterford, kerry.

although there is a growing interest in Gael scoileanna (irish schools) in the cities over here. which is great to see.

:FI:Gurberlys comments on the welsh are so true, i remember queuing to get into a club in Wales. the girl in front of me was arguing with the bouncer. i thought my hearing had gone haywire as i couldnt under stand a word they were saying...turns out they were arguing in Welsh...fair play!!!

I'm assuming that this was a coal/sheep exchange club that you're talking about.

Actual 'CLUBS' are apparently thin on the ground...

Why am I hearing Aled Jones now?????

Irish sounds soooo beautiful to me...pity there is no Irish lg school in Poland, as far as I know....

One of these years I'm going to do the summer "Scoil Ghaeilge"course at UC Galway- I hear they have a "singer in residence" for the course. Plus I have relatives in Tuam.
Last time we were in Galway we went to a show at the Irish speaking club on Dominick St. It was great fun trying my very limited Irish with the other patrons, who were very patient and friendly.