For learners of Ulster Irish, I generally recommend the books from Clólann Bheann Mhadagáin/Ben Madigan Press, which attempt to build a bridge between standard and Gaeltacht (Donegal) Irish. All of the books directed at post-beginners have little or no English, and, while generally using standard spelling, they introduce learners to non-standard verb forms, Ulster vocabulary, turn of phrase etc. Good books, all complemented with CD recordings of all text by Donegal native speakers.

For students or native speakers of other dialects, they also publish a big verb book that provides standard forms alongside the forms of the main dialects.

Highly recommended in my opinion. The writer, Art Hughes, is also a gentleman!

Ádh mór,

An Braonach

http://www.benmadiganpress.com/

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Ultach mé agus Gaeilg Uladh a labhraim go measardha maith!

the problem is that there are books to learn standard Irish, books that attempt to build a bridge between standard and Ulster Irish... and no books to learn Ulster Irish as it is really spoken.

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

Tá an ceart agat mar is gnáth a Lughaidh ach ní raibh mé ag iarraidh leabhair nach ann dóibh a mholadh d'fhoghlaimeoirí!

Thank you, I'll have a look at Ben Madigan press that sounds interesting.
I think what I've settled with now is to persevere with what I'm being taught, in an Ulster dialect and in an Ulster context and I can then feel confident that I'll be able to communicate with speakers in my community and help my grandson. If I ever get over the learning curve and it's not a safe bet ( my short term memory is crap ) I might return to the other dialects out of interest.
It's been suggested to me to start 'Level 2' after christmas as I seem to be getting the hang of it so I've signed up for that today. It's still a big problem though talking to myself 6 days a week, trying to get my tongue round some of it and waiting for two hours in a single evening for some spoken interaction.
My thanks to everyone for their advice and the links and good luck.
Peter

Would this course not be a full course in ulster irish . It was the one recomended to me on my visit to oideas gael .

http://www.learnirishgaelic.com/product ... duct_id=15

I bought the first volume of Tús Maith. It's the same kind of Irish as in Now You're Talking: standard Irish blended with some Ulster stuff.
Looks like authors think Donegal Irish isn't worth teaching.

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

here's an idea, our local irish Language schools are teaching a set curriculum of course but in Ulster Irish. I'l drop in tomorrow and ask them what books they're using. Now why didn't I think of that before. If I had brains I'd be dangerous. (That would make a good teaser for an Irish translation)
Peter

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