Cúpla Focal

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#Cúpla Focal

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>The Department of Education needs to overhaul how we teach Irish... Less rote learning, less of an modh coinníollach. More comhrá agus craic in an environment that encourages people to speak without fear of making mistakes.</p>

columnists

Sarah Harte: If we don't stand up and use our cúpla focal, the Irish language will not survive

We need to rein in the State exam exemptions, pony up to TG4 to support high-quality Irish language programming, and meaningfully consider how we teach Irish from infancy to leaving school

<p>Culture, communications and sport minister Patrick O'Donovan at yesterday's post-budget press conference. Picture: PA</p>

comment-analysis

Patrick O'Donovan can’t help making the wrong sort of headlines

<p>A scene from Irish language film Báite (The Drowned) has been shown at several US film festivals. </p>

culture

Gael Linn: Irish language films aiming to make the most of a golden era

'My family are my all': Peadar Ó Riada reflects on life, music, and his recent cancer diagnosis

S culture

'My family are my all': Peadar Ó Riada reflects on life, music, and his recent cancer diagnosis

Seán Ó Sé obituary: The Cork man who kept singing until the final verse, aged 89

culture

Seán Ó Sé obituary: The Cork man who kept singing until the final verse, aged 89

Irish now: Gaeilge through games rather than grammar

spotlight

Irish now: Gaeilge through games rather than grammar

Irish now: Gaeilge revival is at odds with what’s happening in secondary schools

Irish now: Gaeilge revival is at odds with what’s happening in secondary schools

From Kneecap and CMAT ag canadh as gaeilge, to 'An Cailín Ciúin' at the Oscars, and people spontaneously using the language every day, Irish has erupted — our education system is scrambling to catch up

Mon, 05 Jan, 2026

Young people want to speak Irish — educators need a new approach to help them learn

Young people want to speak Irish — educators need a new approach to help them learn

DCU Sealbhú's consultation with students, parents, and teachers is timely given the upsurge of interest in Gaeilge evident in popular culture

Thu, 01 Jan, 2026

Formal primary school tests

Young the most positive towards Gaeilge in class, report says

More than 70% agreed that every child should have the right to receive an education through Irish at every level of the education system

Sat, 20 Dec, 2025

New Irish dictionary aims to end need to understand words 'through the lens of English'

New Irish dictionary aims to end need to understand words 'through the lens of English'

Foras na Gaeilge said the dictionary is aimed at giving a new way to understand and use the Irish language without relying on dictionaries in English or in other languages

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

Manchán Magan 16/3/2025

Revealed: Manchán Magan and Michael D Higgins among winners of Irish Book Awards 2025

Former President Michael D Higgins was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his impact on Irish art and culture

Thu, 27 Nov, 2025

HEATHER HUMPHREYS

Heather Humphreys vows to relearn Irish in Gaeltacht if elected President

Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys pledges to return to the Gaeltacht to relearn Irish, stressing unity, reconciliation, and community focus

Wed, 03 Sep, 2025

Primavera Sound Barcelona 2025 - Day 2

BBC deny editing Irish language out of new CMAT single

The opening of the song, which features just over 40 seconds of Irish, was not included in the first radio play

Wed, 23 Jul, 2025

West Cork island seeks new head teacher — and more children to help keep its school open

West Cork island seeks new head teacher — and more children to help keep its school open

Cape Clear is wooing young families to help boost enrolment at its primary school, while also advertising for a new head teacher as well as a new tourism manager

Sun, 06 Jul, 2025

Kneecap star to deny terror charge, saying: 'We are on the right side of history'

Kneecap star to deny terror charge, saying: 'We are on the right side of history'

Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh will plead not guilty to a charge brought under the UK’s Terrorism Act in a London court on Wednesday

Tue, 17 Jun, 2025

Ask Audrey: My kids are plotting in Irish — is there a better way to learn than watching more TG4?

Ask Audrey: My kids are plotting in Irish — is there a better way to learn than watching more TG4?

"More documentaries about islands! Please say there is a better way to learn your language."

Fri, 11 Oct, 2024

New Taoiseach appointed

Simon Harris denies charge that ceding gaeltacht brief to FF is an embarrassment

Taoiseach says FG could have taken role but Thomas Byrne is the right choice — and that he intends to improve his own fluency in Irish

Fri, 12 Apr, 2024

How to Gael Podcast: ‘We’re just three friends who happen to be Gaeilgeoirs’

How to Gael Podcast: ‘We’re just three friends who happen to be Gaeilgeoirs’

After Cillian’s go raibh mile at the Oscars, meet the women behind the How to Gael podcast. And there won’t be a modh coinníollach in sight

Sun, 24 Mar, 2024

Teenagers students using smartphone on a school break

Lean ar Aghaidh: Seven ways to help your teen hold on to their Gaeltacht Irish

"Speaking the language for its own sake rather than the pursuit of points in state exams is probably the first step to getting the result you want."

Tue, 08 Aug, 2023

An Cailín Ciúin: 'We were about to become a part of something bigger than any one film - a new wave'

An Cailín Ciúin: 'We were about to become a part of something bigger than any one film - a new wave'

Colm Bairéad and Cleona Ní Chrualaoi, the husband and wife team behind An Cailín Ciúin, reflect on the impact of their quiet girl - and their joy at seeing audiences embrace the cúpla focail

Mon, 24 Jul, 2023

Travel News: Take the ferry to a Gaeltacht break on Oileán Chléire

Travel News: Take the ferry to a Gaeltacht break on Oileán Chléire

Cape Clear Ferries have a new ferry, the aptly named Carraig Aonair, and its summer schedule will reduce crossing to the island from 45 minutes to just 25.

Sun, 23 Jul, 2023

Foghlaimeóir ón Úcráin: how one Ukrainian woman fell in love with the Irish language

Foghlaimeóir ón Úcráin: how one Ukrainian woman fell in love with the Irish language

“I think the Irish-language community in Ireland really made me feel welcome - really like a safety net, I would say, for me.”

Sat, 22 Jul, 2023

Films, books, music, agus... yeah: The Irish language's new cultural moment

Films, books, music, agus... yeah: The Irish language's new cultural moment

Just two years ago it was listed as one of 12 European languages in danger of extinction. Today, from movies, to books, to music - to the TG4 intern's Twitter account - our native language is having a cultural moment, writes Esther McCarthy

Sat, 22 Jul, 2023

'A revolution of the heart': How the Irish language is poised to take on a new life

'A revolution of the heart': How the Irish language is poised to take on a new life

Forget the days of rote learning and awkward exams - a modern revival of spoken Irish is being driven by a desire to make it a living language - foghlaimeóir fásta Mike McGrath-Bryan speaks with some of the people at the heart of a new wave.

Sat, 22 Jul, 2023

Sarah Babiker: Irish and Arabic are two languages a world apart - connected by the sun

Sarah Babiker: Irish and Arabic are two languages a world apart - connected by the sun

Journalist and historian Sarah Babiker discusses an essential commonality between two ancient linguistic traditions

Sat, 22 Jul, 2023

Is Feidir Gael-Linn: Why a trip to the Waterford Gaeltacht is a great holiday

Is Feidir Gael-Linn: Why a trip to the Waterford Gaeltacht is a great holiday

Operated by Éimhín Ní Conchubhair and her brother, Cian, Sólás na Mara is a wellness centre with a Celtic Sea twist.

Sat, 22 Jul, 2023

Adventures on the Dolomites: teenagers hiking

S Céilís, letters home, and a cheeky coven: Summer memories from the Gaeltacht

"Did my Irish improve? Níl mé cinnte, but I did learn 'Tháinig mo shlabhra as mo rothar' - it was my excuse every time I was late for class."

Sat, 22 Jul, 2023

Introduction/Réamhrá: A special edition of Weekend dedicated to the Irish language

Introduction/Réamhrá: A special edition of Weekend dedicated to the Irish language

"Just two years ago, Irish was listed as one of 12 European languages in danger of extinction. Roll on to 2023 and our native language is having a cultural moment, from movies to books, music to TV."

Fri, 21 Jul, 2023