Dia daoibh. Conas atá sibh? I really hope I have gotten that right.
I have been trying to learn to speak Irish on my own for a while now. But I really have no one to practice with...so it seems to be pretty difficult.
I have been trying to use what I do know, in the best way that I can...I am writing a children's book as Gaeilge.
I figure that if I write the story, I know what it's about, I should remember what the words as Gaeilge mean.

Anyway...Tá brón orm, if I am rambling a meaningless hello. Agus tá brón orm do chomh a lán béarla.

Slán go fóill.

Most people have the same difficulty with trying to find speakers to speak with. Try not to loose heart!

Where abouts do yo live, there are often conversational groups that meet quite frequently for chats and a chance to practice what Irish they have. Don't feel hesitant in joining in with the chats and debates here as well, a new voice is always welcome .

If you have a grammar question or questions regarding the Irish language in general this forum is full of people who are happy to help.

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Please wait for corrections/ more input from other forum members before acting on advice

Hello,

my name is Dylan and I'm from the Chicago area in the USA. I'm pretty well-traveled from my 4 years in the Marine Corps but I've never been to Ireland, although I hope to make it in the next year or so, hopefully after I have some Irish to embarrass myself with.

I've always been big on reading and writing, and a couple years ago I also started playing the tin whistle, which kind of got me thinking about Irish stuff in general so I started to read the work of Brian O'Nolan. He became my favorite English-language writer and naturally once I found out that he was a native Irish speaker I wanted to learn it too. So I've been reading translations of his stuff as well as Padraic O Conaire, Mairtin O Cadhain etc. while I study to get ready for the real thing.

Great to be here.

Great to have you! Tá fáilte romhat / You're welcome.

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maidin mhaith

good morning, i'm part Irish , and after I finish university, I would like to work as an archaeologist in Ireland. From what I've seen of the language so far, it is very interesting. one day , i'd like to read books like"the hobbit" in this language .

Hi. My name is Jason and I need some help with my spoken Irish. I need constant contact with the language but I live in Spain. I would be delighted if someone could help me over Skype and speak with me on a weekly basis (or as often as possible) and correct my mistakes. I feel this, along with a grammar book, would be enough to get my level back to where it would need to be to do the Irish section of the interview for the Primary Ed. post-grad I wish to do from September 2016. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Go raibh maith agaibh do na cabhair.

Was he a native speaker? I've always assumed he learned it later in life (ní hé go bhfuil aon náire ansan), which makes his dazzling command of it all the more impressive. Only the other day I was urging a colleague here at the university to read An béal bocht--i nGaeilge, if possible.

He learned Irish from birth and his family spoke it exclusively at home (and he didn't go to school until age 11 because no Irish-speaking school was available), but he may not be classified as a native speaker because he was not from the Gaeltacht, and I'm not sure but I think his parents might have been learners. So it's a gray area, and I guess it's possible that someone learning Irish based mainly on that of O'Nolan might sound a little funny. I guess you could say the same thing about his English.

Hello all!

My name is Brittainy, and I'm very new to the language.

About me: Active-Duty US Air Force, mother of 2 boys, and graduating with my BS in IT security.
I've played the penny whistle for years, and am currently in an Irish Party Band. Initially my want to learn the Irish language was to sing more traditional songs. But then I was looking at Duolingo and discovered that there were more people learning Irish thru the website than native Irish speakers. Additionally, I was watching a documentary in which they described how the language was dying. I'm a fan of dying arts- I like calligraphy, hand-spinning wool, and hand embroidery.

So there we are. My language resources are:
Rosetta Stone
Duolingo
Ranganna
Teach Yourself Irish (Myles Dillon)

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