Blog 4: Why wouldn’t you learn Irish? Exploring the creative possibilities of language learning
Claire Dunne is an Assistant Professor in the Institute of Education in DCU. Prior to that, she was Head of the Department of English and the Department of Irish at Marino Institute of Education. She worked as a lecturer in Irish and a translator in Marino for 17 years.
Previously, she was a primary teacher and worked as a translator for the company Sanas. She holds an MA in Intercultural Studies and a PhD in Applied Linguistics. She is very interested in the learning and teaching of Irish.
Learning or acquiring another language is an enriching experience that gives us different windows on the world. It allows us to tap into our creative self and explore different facets of our identity. The following series of blogs will examine the varying ways that Irish can contribute to our creative selves.
In her fourth and final blog, Dr Claire Dunne explores the creative power of the Irish language and how to enjoy it in everyday life.
Why wouldn’t you learn Irish? Exploring the creative possibilities of language learning
The Irish language is all around us and there are plenty of ways to enjoy using your Irish creatively in your daily life.
Irish All Around Me
Go out for a walk in your locality. Take notice (or a photo) of the signs that you see written in Irish. You will encounter plenty of bilingual road signs, as well as Irish-language names of schools or shops etc.
Do you hear any Irish phrases being used on the bus, on the Luas, or on the train? What do they mean? Make a list of these new phrases.
Have a look at some local place names. What do they mean? Is there a story behind the place name? Go to logainm.ie to find out more information on the place name.
You don’t have to venture outside of your own home to encounter Irish though.
There is lots of Irish all around you at home! Have a look around your home. Can you see anything that has something written in Irish on it, for example, products made in Ireland like Bainne Úr (Fresh milk) and Mil (honey).
More ideas for noticing the Irish in your environment are available on An Ghaeilge sa Bhaile / Irish at Home
My Irish-Language Community
There may be people in your family or neighbourhood who have a few words of Irish. Even if it is years since you learned Irish at school, your Irish has not disappeared! You might be surprised to find how many phrases you can still remember.
Do any of your relatives, friends or neighbours have some Irish? Do they know any other languages? Ask them what their favourite word or phrase is.
Choose a Cara Comhrá or Conversation Pal. Greet that person in Irish each day. Send them a text or message regularly. Why not send them a funny meme in Irish that you like?
Tá mé in ann… Ba mhaith liom a bheith in ann…
Have a think about what you would like to be able to do in Irish. These goals are personal to you. Would you like to listen to a song in Irish, tell a joke in Irish or send a text in Irish?
You can start small. Why not start following An Siopa Leabhar on social media and see recommendations for Irish books? Try using your Irish to write a short post underneath.
If you are interested in learning a bit more about Irish folklore, have a listen to Blúiríní Béaloidis.
Or sit back and watch a short film in Irish Irish Language Archives – IFI Archive Player. (Mean Girls as Gaeilge is a personal favourite! Watch Cailíní Gránna | Irish language Mean Girls parody – YouTube)
If you open your eyes and ears to the language you will find lots of ways to use Irish creatively in your daily life.
