Gaeilge i mo Chroí: How the Irish-language revival can help us reconnect with ár dteanga dúchais

From An Cailín Ciúin to Kneecap, our native tongue is in the zeitgeist. Now a new book by Molly Nic Céile shows us how we can use our cúpla focal every day

Molly Nic Cheile: Tá an athbheochan faoi lán seoil (the revival is in full swing). 

You might have heard that the Irish language has been having a revival (or an ‘athbheochan’). The rumours are true.

Tá an athbheochan faoi lán seoil (the revival is in full swing). 

Here are some of the exciting things that have been happening over the past few years i saol na Gaeilge (the world of Irish). 

• On January 1, 2022, Irish gained full official status in the EU. 
• At the end of 2022, the Language and Identity Bill in the North of Ireland became an official act. 
• Anuraidh (last year), An Cailín Ciúin was the first Irish-language film to be nominated for an Oscar.
• Labhair Paul Mescal Gaeilge (Paul Mescal spoke Irish) on the red carpet at the BAFTAs, while being interviewed by TG4. 
• Kneecap, the Irish rap trio who rap as Gaeilge agus Béarla (in Irish and English), have had great success with their ceol (music) and scannán (film), starring themselves and Michael Fassbender.

So Saol na Gaeilge has not been ciúin (quiet) and certainly not dead. However, it’s not just na daoine cáiliúla (the famous people) who have been keeping the flame lit. 

They might provide a spotlight don teanga (for the language), for a while but there are people ar fud na hÉireann agus an domhain (across Ireland and the world) who work tirelessly to promote and share an Ghaeilge. 

Pop-up Gaeltachtaí are popping up everywhere from Wellington, New Zealand to New York City to Frankfurt, Germany!

I started my YouTube channel, Gaeilge i mo Chroí, in November 2019, four months before the pandemic and lockdown. 

A very challenging time for us all, and yet some of us decided to take on the additional dúshlán (challenge) of learning or relearning Irish. 

Everything went online which was a huge disadvantage for certain things... mar shampla (for example) the acting class I took. The Crucible isn’t quite the same over Zoom. 

Irish classes however can be delivered pretty well online. This made the language accessible to so many people who never had the proper access before.

Not to mention the accessibility of social media as Gaeilge with content creators teaching aspects of the language through short videos or simply just choosing to share their lives as Gaeilge instead of Béarla.

When I took to Instagram and YouTube to share the Gaeilge i mo chroí (Irish in my heart), I had no idea how many other hearts it would reach. 

I was not clued into saol na Gaeilge, even though I had always had a passion for Gaeilge.

Kneecap: buachaillí dána as Iar-Béal Féirste

GLIONDAR AR MO CHROÍ

Níor rugadh ná tógadh mé sa Ghaeltacht (I was not born or raised in the Gaeltacht). Tógadh mé i Leitir Ceanainn, Dún na nGall (I was raised in Lettekenny, Donegal). I didn’t attend a gaelscoil. 

My parents have some Irish so there were certain phrases as Gaeilge that we would use around the house, such as, ‘cén t-am é?’ (what time is it?), ‘oíche mhaith’ (good night), ‘tabhair dom..,’ (give me..) etc. 

I was by no means raised with Irish but the little that was in my life was so special. I loved saying ‘oíche mhaith’ instead of ‘good night’. 

It can be exciting for a child to say something in a different language but it wasn’t just any language, it was my native language, our native language and every moment I got to use it, chuir sé gliondar ar mo chroí (It put delight on my heart). 

With every focal (word) I learned, I felt as though I was putting together the pieces of a puzzle. A puzzle that I had every right to own. 

I know that you might be reading this and thinking ‘why didn’t I feel like that? What is she on about?’ Agus tuigim (I understand), which is why I created Gaeilge i mo Chroí, my YouTube channel and Instagram account. 

I want tusa (you) to feel that childlike curiosity and wonder that I felt and still feel in amanna (at times).

As I got older and as the school years went on, the less fun I had with the language, ar an drochuair (unfortunately). 

It became all about na scrúduithe (the exams) and making sure we had enough covered to get through them. 

So when I set out to make físeáin faoin Ghaeilge (videos about Irish), the last thing I wanted people to be reminded of was an seomra ranga (the classroom). 

NÁIRE INTO GÁIRE

An seomra ranga where they were faoi bhrú (under pressure) before na scrúduithe. 

I also wanted to create a safe space to explore an teanga and make botúin (mistakes).

To lead by example, I included my own botúin (mistakes) at the end of my videos. Bhain daoine sult as seo (people enjoyed this).

I believe we can turn náire into gáire (embarrassment into laughter) and take pride in our language. Is linne í an Ghaeilge (Irish is ours), so let’s own it.

Gaeilge i mo chroí is all about sharing, whether that’s through a físeán, at a pop-up Gaeltacht or a book. 

This time I am sharing mo ghrá don teanga (my love for the language) in the form of a leabhar (book). 

As much as I love to make físeáin, I couldn’t think of a nicer way to package and present all of the focail misnigh (words of encouragement) and guidance I want to offer, than in a leabhar. 

There are grammar books and textbooks that will help you learn the language but I hope my book, ‘Gaeilge i mo Chroí’ will help you love the languge. 

It is written as Béarla (in English) with lots of words and phrases in Irish throughout.

We can use the language gach lá (everyday) and we don’t have to be fluent. I believe that the odd word/phrase can make you as happy as it made me to say ‘oíche mhaith’ as a child, if you open do chroí to it. 

Connecting with our native tongue (ar dteanga dúchais) and understanding who we are can be very healing and empowering.

Here are some of the ways we can have Gaeilge in our lives gach lá:

• Scríobh do liosta siopadóireachta as Gaeilge — write your shopping list in Irish, or your to-do list.
• Éist le podchraoladh as Gaeilge — listen to a podcast in Irish.
• Follow content creators who use Gaeilge ar na meáin shóisialta (on social media).
• Abair — say ‘go raibh maith agat’ instead of ‘thank you’ or ‘slán’ instead of ‘bye’.
• No one to practice with? Labhair le do pheata! — talk to your pet, or yourself!
• Play an Irish word game such as ‘foclach’ or ‘litreach’ on your phone.
• Attend a pop-up Gaeltacht or ciorcal comhrá.
• There are loads of little ways we can enrich our lives le Gaeilge. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
  

• Gaeilge i Mo Chroí — Irish In My Heart: Your Guide to Loving and Living the Irish Language by Molly Nic Céile is published in hardback by Hachette Books Ireland €18.99