Learning Irish?

Question

Hi. I was wondering if there were any 'books on tape' lessons for learning Irish. I would like to learn it up to a conversational level and can find nothing here in my local book stores. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Here are a couple of sites offering Irish Software Courses, Audio CDs, and  Irish Audio Tape Courses

"MLS Easy Immersion! Irish is a complete audio and software package. It also comes with an audio CD and a book of simple stories."

And

Irish for Beginners

"This entertaining and colourful book and tape contains an introduction to Irish for complete beginners and has been specially designed to make language learning easier and fun"

You might also be interested in these online sites for learning Irish:

HOW TO PRONOUNCE IRISH FOR BEGINNERS

Interactive Irish Lessons

Learn Irish Gaelic

The last site is an online forum of Irish speakers and learners who help each other with the language and translations.

Answer 2

I agree! My husband and I took a course in conversational Irish at the University of Pittsburgh many years ago.  Even though everyone speaks English, there are some places in the Republic that still have street signs etc.only in Irish.  These places are called the "Gaeltacht."  At one particular house we stopped at in  Dingle (to see the beehive huts advertised along the roadside,) we spoke Irish to the occupants of the house as we got out of the car.  They were surprised asking us, "Where did you get the Irish?" We replied, "The University of Pittsburgh!"  It was a nice ice breaker.

Below is a link to an Irish language book I found on Amazon.  Good luck and have a great trip!

Answer 3

Should I be laffing? Learning Irish? Uh, they speak English over there. If you want to pick up a phony accent and some dialect, hire a language coach or a linguist.

Answer 4

Hi,

I know I have seen some in online bookstores- if you live in a larger town you might check your local library first.  Mine has a subscription to the Rosetta Stone language learning system and I think they have a Gaelic course.  

While people in Ireland speak English there is quite a bit of Gaelic I'm told (I'm reading up for a trip there in May) and lots of signage still in Gaelic.  Also lots of cultural atmosphere and a tradition of "craic" so I think it's a cool idea to try to learn some of the tongue!   My ancestry is Irish so I am eager to hear it spoken and pick up some to perpetuate.

Good luck