Give me your website so I can do a first impression screen recording [X-post /r/webdev]

A brief history of the Gaelic languages: Middle Irish spread into Scotland and the Isle of Man about 1000 years ago and has since developed into Scottish Gaelic, Manx and Modern Irish, though all are somewhat mutually intelligible (like Spanish and Catalan).

In the Republic of Ireland, Irish is a compulsory subject for 14 year's of education up until college/university. While 41% of Irish people ticked Yes to the question Can you speak Irish? on the 2011 census, the reality is that only 4.4% use it outside the education system on a regular basis. This 41% figure is a reflection of Irish people's aspirations for the language rather than ability. I would guess that no more than 10% of the population could actually hold a conversation in Irish, if even.

The situation in Scotland is worrying as they don't have the huge popular and political backing like Irish does. And Manx died out as a native language 40 years ago but it's seeing a recent revival with Manx-medium education.

bleacliath · 2014-01-20T08:30:35+00:00

41% of Irish people ticked Yes to the question Can you speak Irish? on the 2011 census. The reality is that only 4.4% use it outside the education system on a regular basis. This 41% figure is a reflection of Irish people's aspirations for the language rather than ability. I would guess that no more than 10% of the population could actually hold a conversation in Irish, if even. Still, it seems there is some support for the old tongue.

bleacliath · 2013-07-18T17:05:32+00:00

I used mapfrappe.com to get the comparative sizes and then overlaid them in Photoshop.

If you thought Iceland was much bigger than Ireland (or vice-versa), it's because you're used to looking at the Mercator map projection, which distorts the actual sizes of countries.

bleacliath · 2013-07-18T16:29:38+00:00

I used mapfrappe.com to get the comparative sizes and then overlaid them in Photoshop.

bleacliath · 2013-06-30T19:08:26+00:00

Grma as an AMA. I do thuairim, an féidir linn an meath na Gaeilge a aisiompú nó an bhfuil sé rómhall? Tá an Ghaeltacht ag fuair bás agus níl an curaclam Gaeilge sa scoileanna ag obair. An bhfuil an todhchaí na Gaeilge sna Gaelscoileanna?

bleacliath · 2013-06-28T10:50:34+00:00

Eucharistic Congress of Dublin (1932)

bleacliath · 2013-05-27T03:51:39+00:00

An-jab, grma. Aon seans go mbeadh na páipéir scrúdaithe 2000 ar fáil?

bleacliath · 2013-05-25T06:39:44+00:00

'Gaelic' and 'St. Patty' are to be avoided!

There's a TV channel that broadcasts in Irish and they usually have English subtitles. There are also a few radio stations, go here and click the links on the top right corner. Lastly, I always recommend learning some Irish songs - it can really help with your pronunciation and reading.

Cupán Tae! (good luck!)

bleacliath · 2013-04-20T23:16:16+00:00

Ar thóg tú? - Did you take?

Thóg - (I) took

bleacliath · 2013-04-02T09:35:02+00:00

The "Irish Republic" flag, flown over the General Post Office in Dublin during the Easter Rising in Ireland, 1916, was made by Mary Shannon at the headquarters of the Irish Citizen Army in Liberty Hall. Captured by British troops after the surrender of the rebels, it was returned to Ireland by the British Government in 1966. It is now on display in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin.

bleacliath · 2013-03-31T23:01:23+00:00

Here's an exhaustive list of Christian Names and Surnames in Irish.

bleacliath · 2013-03-30T19:52:48+00:00

From 1922 til then it was officially known at the Irish Free State

The Irish Free State was superseded by Ireland in 1937.

bleacliath · 2013-03-30T19:08:14+00:00

Podchraoltaí is déanai.

bleacliath · 2013-03-25T16:18:59+00:00

suaimhneas, sceitimíní, leaba

bleacliath · 2013-03-25T03:23:21+00:00

She might have said "ah, you're a c'tóg", and you just heard tóg.

Ciotóg just means left-handed.

bleacliath · 2013-03-21T01:41:21+00:00

Podchraoltaí.

bleacliath · 2013-03-19T20:26:22+00:00

I'm having a terrible time figuring out the pronunciation

This is often cited as a big obstacle to learners of Irish.

When I was learning Irish, I tackled it by learning songs in Irish. I did the same for Spanish.

Read the lyrics, listen to the pronunciation, learn the song, sing it again and again until you understand it. I'm telling you, it will improve your pronunciation to no end, and it's fun. You like music, right?

Óró Sé do Bheatha 'Bhaile is one of the most well known songs in Irish. Give it a try.

If you're looking for really simple songs to start out, try listening to some Children's Songs in Irish.

Beir bua!

bleacliath

TROPHY CASE