Haigh a chairde

(I wasn't sure which forum to put this in)
I'm having the opportunity to visit a Gaeltacht (Inis Oírr) later on this year (for an entire month!), and am wondering if anybody has any good stories / suggestions regarding learners visiting the Gaeltachtai. While I'm incredibly excited, I'm also incredibly nervous as I've heard a number of bad stories from people who've gone to various places with hopes to use their Irish and/or pick up a few new words, only to be denied (or worse; seen as an annoyance.)

I know that if I don't use any Irish, or try to learn more, I'm going to be so full of unbearable regret...but at the same time, the whole thing makes me anxious and hesitant to use it at all. A friend of mine said that during her own visit to Inis Oírr to visit a friend, she was mocked something awful I want and need to respect the residents, as they certainly are not there to teach me or amuse me or anything of that sort, and I'm sure they have to put up with people like me all the time (thus their annoyance is understandable), but at the same time I'd hate to let the opportunity just float away

So, does anybody have any stories of their own visits to a Ghaeltacht, or any suggestions on how to approach such a situation? Seeing as I'm there as the artist-in-residence, I was thinking that perhaps I could do a bit of a trade, some art for a cupla focail maybe?

I think the best way is to go and talk naturally to the local people, and not saying "hello I am a learner and I want to improve my Irish, would you like to help me?" because people don't want to be like teachers. But normally if you talk to them "as if it were normal" it is ok. Of course people prefer when you speak a Gaeltacht (-like) Irish, even if it isn't their dialect, rather than school Irish with much of new terminology that only a few people can understand.
In my experience, in the Gaeltacht I always directly spoke (Donegal) Irish to everybody and nobody ever answered in English (except a few people who weren't from there, eg. they were from Glasgow etc so they couldn't answer in Irish) and nobody ever looked bothered to talk Irish with me.

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

I think sometimes people are a bit afraid that you are "having them on" or mocking them in some way (because non-Irish speakers in Ireland do that at times), and they don't really expect you to be able to do more than say a few things, so they may not want to get too invested in the whole exercise. However, if they perceive your sincerity, as Lughaidh said, then I've found people in the Gaeltacht to be friendly and cooperative.

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I'm not a native (or entirely fluent) speaker, so be sure to wait for confirmations/corrections, especially for tattoos.

I have spent a couple of week long stints on Inir Oirr and loved it. Some people are happy to speak in Irish and others less so. Stick with it and you will have far more positive experiences than negative.

It's a beautiful island. It won't take you long to walk around it!

Bain taitneamh agus tairbhe as do thuras!

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If you are going to use the Gaeltacht areas as your resource to Irish rather than urban areas, to get best responses and attitude you are going to have to try and try and emulate their Irish and speak their local dialect as in prononciation, vocabulary etc well thats what should be done with all languages anyway. Gaeltacht people feel more comfortable speaking Irish to people who don't speak with a learned prononciation or struggle etc because they feel you wont understand them.

Inis Oírr is a proper Gaeltacht they all speak Irish there and its absolutely beautiful scenry.

I spent a week in the fíor-Ghaeltacht in Donegal with my Conamara Irish in 2010 and everyone was happy to speak back in Irish and the dialects are different.

Anybody who mocks or laughs at you is just plain ignorant.
Don't let one bad experience of a friend cloud your perception of the other islanders.

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It is recommended that you always wait for three to agree on a translation.
I speak Connemara Irish, and my input will often reflect that.
I will do an mp3 file on request for short translations.
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Go raibh míle míle míle maith agaibh!

I feel a bit more assured now. Still nervous though, of course.

I am hoping to approach the situation and talk as if it were a natural thing ( as Lugaidh mentioned, not to waltz up to people and introduce myself with something along the lines of "hi I'm a learner and would you mind helping me improve my Irish?") Although I know my Irish is a bit..scattered. I've been focusing on a Donegal dialect lately and although I've been told my pronunciation is spot on (I managed to impress Brendan Begley! One of my proudest moments ), my grammar and terminology are all over the place (i.e. I tend to use a lot of words from Connacht Irish, as that's the Irish I initially focused on, mixed in with the Donegal, and some standard is inevitably in there.) But alas, I have a few months ahead of me to work on refining such things, so that's reassuring.

It's unfortunate (but, also unfortunately, understandable) that they would think I might be having them on. All of my intents are absolutely sincere and meant with the utmost respect and I hope that comes through. This trip truly means a great deal to me, and the last thing I want to do is offend or upset anyone.

Really everyone, I appreciate all of the input! Does anybody know of any resources that might have a bit of some Inis Oirr Irish in them? I have O'Siadhail's "Modern Irish" but haven't looked in there yet to see if he mentions anything, so I'll get on that tonight.

Again thanks so much

it is not inevitable

Good luck anyway, tá mé cinnte go mbainfidh tú sult as do thréimhse sa Ghaeltacht, le muitir na háite

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