Lets agree to disagree.

No. You are not even learning Irish, but have come onto this forum to peddle filth and tearing apart of normal morality.

This is clearly the Latin term, not Irish at all. I won't give you the real spelling, as I don't regard this as a legitimate project. This woman wasn't even Irish - possibly English or Norman by ancestry.

I didn't come here for an argument and I won't be responding to you further.

Do you have any genuine question on the Irish language?

I personally think that this conversation is beginning to devolve and become unnecessarily crude. This forum is of high importance to me and many other Irish learners and speakers, but the one thing that I completely despise about it is the way in which seemingly every discussion in which two contradicting parties do not agree seems to end in extremely harsh, disrespectful, and rude commentary. I do agree that some people may find this project offensive or disagree with some of your views, personally this discussion is starting to cross the border into uncomfortable territory for me, but if you do not think that this project is worth while or 'correct', than there is no need to continually attack the person searching for help. As well as this, I think that it could be viewed as somewhat naïve, coming onto a forum with a somewhat controversial topic not expecting controversy. There is no reason for anyone to be given the cold shoulder, and I think that debating a topic is fine as long as it is not degrading or meant to be harmful.

I by no means am trying to disrespect anyone, and I hope that you can understand where I'm coming from.

Thank you Séamus.

I do apologise to the management of this forum if I've not used it as intended. I thank everyone for their advice which has been very useful. I made a donation to the fund to keep the forum going. I hope this important forum long thrives.

I can't apologise for being a Irish woman modern historian with a lack of knowledge of the Irish language but interested in the history of certain marginalised groups in Ireland, especially a group that some may feel is controversial or shouldn't be discussed, as this is just what I am. But I did not come here with bad intent.

Perhaps a moderator might close this thread or similar if it has become unconstructive?

Thank you

Lucy

Lucy, a chara,

I clearly see that you have come to this forum with good intent, and I do not believe that you mean any harm with your requests.

I, unfortunately, believe that the state of this forum is slightly dwindling, as less and less people are posting normally, and because of this, it is important to treat everybody with equal respect, and try our best to keep heavy arguments from breaking out, as it is these heavy arguments that have even caused people to get kicked off the forum.

I will always try my best to not get involved in anything that will cause arguments, and I will always try my best to help with any translations, or help with grammar, etc.

One other thing that I would like to say to you, Lucy, is that I highly encourage you to just pick up a little Irish, just start learning a couple phrases. (You'd be surprised how far your cúpla focal will get you). Because at the end of the day, the only thing that will keep the language going, is if people who have a genuine interest like you, put in an effort to learn it.

Le Gach Dea-Ghuí,
Séamus

Thanks Séamus.

Learning some Irish is important to me and I'm going to try to do that. I am already collecting some Irish texts for another history project I am working on and I am trying to understand them. I have come to that point in my life where I want to learn Irish. Despite going to school in Ireland, I didn't learn Irish, because, well politics of the time I suppose. But that's no excuse. I see lots of people who never went to school in Ireland learning Irish and that's inspiring to see.

Lucy

100%. It's no doubt that the Irish curriculum is not effective when it comes to teaching the native language, so usually the responsibility lies on the learner rather than on the teacher, which is sad. I was born and raised in Colorado, in the US, so I know the struggle of learning the language outside of the country, especially when you're far outside of Irish Gaelic hot spots within the states (such as New York and Boston). Personally the most difficult part for me is not knowing my level in the language, or what I need to improve on, as in Ireland there are exams that students take to refer them to their fluency level. I hope that we can hear from you again on the forum, as learners like you are what's keeping it going.