Ta roinnt gaeilge agam– after learning from Liam O’Maonlaí’s Irish CDs, which were issued with ‘The Irish Independent’ earlier this year. Entitled ‘Everyday Irish’, the course introduced the useful, common language used in everyday conversation you might have with your friends or family.

Learning Irish is important in keeping Irish culture alive as to lose any language is to lose a unique way of looking at life. Liam speaks the phrases in a beautiful Kerry Irish accent.
It’s fun to have cúpla focal. I was at an advantage, having basic Irish from school. Still, the course was as good as it could have been for first-time learners, and was accompanied by worksheets to explore the written and grammatical aspects of the language.

You learned how to say anything from ‘Dia dhuit. Peadar is ainm dom.’ ‘Dia is Muire duit. Conas atá tu?’ “Tá me go breá, agus tu féin?’ to Ní raibh fhèidir leis an tortóis rith an-tapaigh (the tortoise couldn’t run very fast); Bíonn oicheanta na seactaine igcomhair caitheamh aimsire (weeknights are for hobbies) to Ní mór don domhain laghdú ar bhrúchta carbóin chun an téamh domhanda a sheachaint (the world has to reduce carbon emissions to avoid global warming).
The Anglicisation of the language in many words and phrases is apparent for example: galfchúrsa (golf course); panini gan feoil (vegetarian panini), gin agus tonic, alleargach (allergic); cairtceoil (chart music),

Also Irish has absorbed the new media as best it can in new words: Chaill me mo fón póca (I lost my mobile phone); D’Fhág mé guthphost aige (I left him a voicemail); Chuir téacs uaim (send me a text); Cén gréasán ar a bhfuil tusa? (what network are you on?); Fón saorláimhe (hands free); Fís digiteach (DVD); Dhíoslodáil me an t-album ar fad go dtí mo iPod (I downloaded the entire album to my iPod); an idirlíon (the internet); and srúthfísean (streaming video).

You’d also be able to discuss property in the current market by saying Tá comhair leighis a chur air don suaitheach tar éis féachaint ar phraghas iarrata teach leathscoite trí sheomra i gCabra (he is being treated for shock after seeing the asking price for a three-bed semi in Cabra!).

And discussing trends and style: An séasúr seo, sé dearg an dubh úr (this season, red is the new black); is féidir le gach bean féachaint go breá i ngúna dubh (every woman looks good in a black dress); Tá na hippies fós ag caitheamh na sprébhríste (the hippies are still in their flares); and Bhí sé chomh caol le slat agus droch-ghnúis air (he was as skinny as a rake with a face that would cool soup!)

Of course, the weather: Sa samhradh seo. Níl sé te ná grianmhar agus níl an spéir gorm (this summer, its not warm or sunny and the sky is not blue) gabh mo leithsceál (sorry for mentioning it), Tà sé scamallach agus tá sé ag stealladh báistí? (its cloudy and its pouring rain).
If you have enjoyed reading as Gaeilge, you might like to take it up yourself. Go n-éirí an t-ádh libh! Good Luck! Get in touch with Conradh na Gaeilge 6, Harcourt St.,Dublin 2. Tel:4757401 or Gael Linn, 35, Dame St., Dublin 2. Tel: 6751200.