The 12 Best Irish Podcasts (Updated)
Understanding the spoken word can be one of the hardest parts of learning any language. Alongside regular opportunities for conversation, we need a steady stream of audio content to help us get familiar with the everyday sounds and vocabulary…and here’s where podcasts come in! These short audio programmes can play an incredibly useful role in helping us become more immersed in our target language.
Learners often ask us to recommend Irish podcasts, so we surveyed our followers in order to compile “The 12 Best Irish Podcasts“. The titles are arranged in no particular order, and represent a diverse range of styles, interests and dialects. Let us know your own thoughts and recommendations in the Comments…agus bígí ag éisteacht!
For top banter and ‘scoth na Gaeilge’, you need look no further than RTE’s ‘Beo Ar Éigean’ with Sinéad Ní Uallacháin, Áine Ní Bhreisleáin and Siún Ní Dhuinn. What’s most enjoyable about this show is the spontaneous style and wide variety of topics – friendship, work, relationships, culture – as well as the feeling that you’re in the company of three people who enjoy chatting and laughing together ‘as Gaeilge’. Éist anseo.
Presenter Lisa Nic an Bhreithimh was inspired to start ‘Fada is Fairsing’ after spending a year teaching Irish in the USA. Recorded at Raidió na Life studios since 2013, this podcast focuses on Irish speakers from around the globe, alongside updates on language festivals, organisations, conferences and more. Tune in for multiple guest interviews and news. Éist anseo.
This 8-episode podcast from RTÉ and Fíbín Media is an excellent entry point for both children and also older learners of Irish. The young cast embrace the adventure, mystery and fun of ‘Ón Domhan Thíos’, as they set about to uncover a mystery involving a fairy fort and a changeling from the Otherworld. Éist anseo.
New kid on the block, ‘How to Gael’, is a popular bilingual new podcast from Síomha Ní Ruairc, Doireann Ní Ghlacáin and Louise Cantillon. The three friends like to banter about their lives working and socialising ‘trí Ghaeilge, so expect plenty of musings on work life, pop culture, current affairs and general gossip. For something easy listening, with a few helpful Irish words thrown in, give this new podcast a spin! Éist anseo.
‘Bláth na dTulach’ celebrates contemporary short story writing from Ulster. Each month a new story is published online, and supported by a podcast episode with Réaltán Ní Leannánin, where she invites a native speaker to read the story, followed by a brief discussion. What’s wonderful here is that listeners also have access to the short story text, via blath.ie. The anthology ranges in style and theme, from love to revenge, hope to humour and sadness. Éist anseo.
The gregarious trio of Hugh Carr, Áine Mhaoir and James Ó Flatharta have been building up a solid following as ‘Na Seansálaithe’, consistently delivering an entertaining new episode every Friday. Banter, pop culture and good craic are all guaranteed. What’s more, you don’t need to stick to Spotify or Apple Podcasts to follow along – you can also see their weekly episodes on YouTube! Éist anseo.
You’ll hear Donegal accents and Ulster Irish galore in this well-established magazine show from Raidió na Gaeltachta. A diverse range of topics concerning folks up north is brought to you by presenter Michelle Nic Grianna, Monday to Friday. Be sure to watch out for Mary Aggie’s guest appearance, which are sure to test your listening skills while also delivering a good chuckle! Éist anseo.
What’s notable about ‘Aistí ón Aer’ is that it’s not your typical, magazine-type podcast. It’s a series featuring new writing from established or emerging writers, talking about a wide range of subjects. The series provides a large platform for new Irish writing to be heard, all under the stewardship of presenter Marcus Mac Conghail.
Episodes: Éist anseo.
‘Blas’ being the Irish word for ‘taste’, this BBC podcast covers a variety of topics, from sports to art to current events. Presenters include Fearghal Mag Uiginn, Máire Bhreathnach, Dáithí Ó Muirí and Caoimhe Ní Chathail. ‘Blas’ functions as a great way to be entertained, test your Irish, and follow subjects that interest you. It also provides excellent content on GAA sports, such as football and hurling. Éist anseo.
Seán Ó Dubhchon reliably churns out a raft of weekly, eclectic interviews with ‘daoine mór le rá’ from the Irish language world. Episodes typically run from 20 to 35 minutes, which is the perfect length for anyone new to podcasts and looking for a manageable starting point. Also, be sure to check out this show’s impressive back catalogue of previous interviews! Éist anseo.
‘An Spota Dubh’ does one thing, and it does it well. This sports programme from Cárthach Bán Breathnach and Cian Ó Griallais at Raidió na Life provides all sports fans with their weekly fix of chat and guest interviews. All the big sporting events of the week are up for discussion. Éist anseo.
Ciara Ní É presents an entertaining and informative podcast, interviewing various guests from the Irish language world. Listen back to chats with poet Áine Ní Ghlinn, writer-translator Antain Mac Lochlainn or grammar guru Seosamh Ó Murchú. Táimid ag súil go mbeidh níos mó! Éist anseo.
Unlike the other podcasts listed, which are all ongoing in 2023, ‘The Nobody Zone’ is a standalone feature. This 6-episode, true crime series, produced in collaboration with Raidió na Gaeltachta, tells the story of a murderer who targeted the vulnerable in the London underworld. What’s unique about ‘The Nobody Zone’ is that it was produced in five languages – Irish, English, Danish, Spanish and German! This podcast broke records on its release in 2020, becoming the most downloaded Irish podcast (limited series) ever. Millions have since entered ‘The Nobody Zone’ – an rachaidh tú féin ann? Éist anseo.
Although currently on hiatus, Bladhaire has long been a firm favourite with listeners worldwide. The show broadcast live every Thursday and Friday from Donegal, under the stewardship of host Áine Ní Bhreisleáin. Bladhaire consistently engaged listeners with its blend of entertainment discussion, live music sessions, commentary on events, interviews with guests and occasional sports updates! Let’s Learn Irish was featured on the show in 2022, in the lead-up to the annual Féile na Gaeilge festival! Episodes are still available on playback. Éist anseo.
Agus sin é – ‘The 12 Best Irish Podcasts‘, as reported by the global, online Irish community! It’s interesting to consider how the popularity of podcasts really increased around 2014, when narrative shows, particularly those about true-crime, began to gain widespread appeal. Irish language podcasts were scarce then, but thankfully, we now have many productions to choose from, covering politics to sports, linguistics to pop culture.
No doubt you’ll find an Irish podcast that speaks to you, if you haven’t done so already. Share this list among your fellow Irish speakes, and be sure to post your recommendations in the Comments below. If you enjoyed this article, you might also like to check out our 12 Best Free Resources for Learning Irish.
Bígí páirteach!
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