Just curious as to other peoples reasons for wanting to learn, and if you believe that learning Irish is important?

Well, there is definitely no utilitarian reason for learning Irish, since virtually all Irish speakers also speak English. Communication is not really a reason for most people to learn this language unless they are planning on moving to the Gaeltacht. I, for example, live in a place where I will probably never run into an Irish speaking person in my whole life.

If you choose to learn the Irish language, it's because you love the language and the culture. I'm learning Irish because I love Irish folklore (most of which has never been translated into English) and Irish poetry which really needs to be read in the original Gaelic to be fully appreciated. Also, some of the best songs that I've ever heard are in Irish Gaelic.

Family history, peaked interest, and mostly because I think it's a beautiful language.

~Conan

Good post, thanks pal

No one reason for me.

I suppose Irish I see it all around me, its in our place names, in music, it influences the way we speak English. despite hating trying to learn it in school I always found it fascinating.

I find all other cultures interesting, and think the more diverse the world the more interesting it is. So I decided to learn about what helps make the corner of the world I come from different and ensure that diversity survives in an increasingly globalized world.

The idea of their being one world consumerist mono culture with a few big languages seems incredibly boring to me.

It also opens up a whole different part of our culture I was only vaguely in touch with.

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Bíonn rudaí maithe mall

Right on, Matty!

Yeah, I know exactly what you mean! It's good to learn a non-imperial language. And even within those languages, diversity is being wiped out. The dialect of Spanish that is traditionally spoken in New Mexico, for example, is being overrun by English and "standard" Spanish and will probably be extinct within the next 50 years or so.

Irish is simply the most beautiful language on Earth. This is quite a good reason to learn it

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Is fearr Gaeilg na Gaeltaċta ná Gaeilg ar biṫ eile
Agus is í Gaeilg Ġaoṫ Doḃair is binne

I love the fact that you say this at every opportunity!

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For me, I grew up with it, so in that respect, I didn't have a "choice". But I do actively participate in this community (or at least i did up until the last year think I'm going to stick around again though ).

I find languages fairly interesting. I used to think I was a Maths guy (and to some extent I am) and picked a computers' degree - but I actually did better in languages in school (did quite well in English). SO maybe I'm a languages guy after all .

Translation can be fun, comparing/contrasting across languages etc. I will admit to having a certain amount of pride in having a high level of spoken ability, though this certainly wouldn't be my main motivation, more a happy coincidence of my situation as it is in the first place.

I love the music and songs. It has been worth it to be able to sing and understand the songs. And then to be able to converse with people after a performance, the odd visitor from Ireland who has come up to find out if I could really speak it, or only mimic the songs.

If you get good at something there are also little jobs that come up like teaching or translating (in my case from Irish to Japanese).

And now the wife and kids are interested, so once you start, the thing just keeps growing and growing ...

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Múinteoir Gaeilge - Irish Teacher
My "specialty" is Connemara Irish, particularly Cois Fhairrge dialect, but I can also speak Ulster and Munster Irish with native-level pronunciation.
Is fearr Gaeilge ḃriste ná Béarla cliste, cinnte, aċ i ḃfad níos fearr aríst í Gaeilge ḃinn ḃeo na nGaeltaċtaí.
Gaeilge Chonnacht (GC), go háraid Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge (GCF), Gaeilic Uladh (GU), Gaelainn na Mumhan (GM), agus Gaeilge an Chaighdeáin Oifigiúil (CO).