How similar are Ulster Irish and Scots Gaelic?

Question

I'm not totally fluent, but I do speak a fair amount of Scots Gaelic. I am moving from Scotland to Donegal soon, and was wondering whether the two languages (since they both stem from the same language) would be close enough to order beer and ask directions in the Irish speaking areas.

Answer 1

They're not so different and you should be able to do basic sentences if you speak slowly. I have a different dialect, but I easily picked up enough to get by when I visited Skye once I got used to different intonations.

One point in your favour may be that a lot of Donegal native speakers have experience of Scots Gaidhlig, having spent time in Scotland.

Answer 2

Despite the similarities i find it really hard to understand scottish accents and dialect. Tone it down a bit and speak slowly(but not so slowly that you sound stupid lol) xx

Answer 3

I think you should be ok with basics, I can understand Scots Gaelic if it is spoken slowly..

Answer 4

A Scots Gaelic speaker came to my school and I had no idea what he was saying sorry.