Member Profile: Tamasine Wood-Creighton

Tamasine Wood-Creighton considers herself blessed to be an Irish citizen, by way of her Galway-born mother! Following her retirement, Tamasine decided that she wanted to get reacquainted with her ancestry, from her home in Antrim, New Hampshire…

Enter Tamasine’s mother, a native Irish speaker from Ros Muc. Together, mother and daughter decided to work alongside each other so that they could begin chatting in Irish! Tamasine notes that at 88 years young, her mum is very capable of teaching and correcting. Her mum helps with pronunciation and phrasing, but Tamasine jokes that “sometimes she’s using local chat and it doesn’t quite agree with the book learning!”

Tamasine greatly enjoys writing daily letters and postcards as a way to help practise Irish with her mum. When they meet together twice each week, they mostly communicate in Irish. As Tamasine reflects, “Had it not been for Let’s Learn Irish, I don’t believe I would be as far along in my journey as I feel I am! As a life long learner, I am so thrilled that Irish is in my repertoire now!”

Both mother and daughter are excited to continue on their language journey together. Mar a deirtear, beatha teanga í a labhairt – the life of a language is to speak it!

Cé Thusa?

Ainm/Name: Tamasine Wood-Creighton

Áit/Location: Antrim, New Hampshire, USA.

Leibhéal/Level: B1 Intermediate

Ról sa Chomhphobal/Role in the Community: Foghlaimeoir/Learner

Slí Beatha/Occupation: Táim ar scoir/I’m retired

Fad ag foghlaim Gaeilge/Time learning Irish: Trí bliana/Three years

Caithimh Aimseartha/Hobbies: Leadóg/Tennis, Ag sciáil/Skiing, Ag snámh/Swimming, Ag fuáil/Sewing

Cad is Fearr Leat?

Ceol/Music: Ceol traidisiúnta na hÉireann agus popcheol/Irish traditional music and pop music

Amhrán/Song: Sí do Mhaimeo!/She’s your Grandmother!

Bia/Food: Stéig agus Prátaí/Steak and Potatoes

Deoch/Drink: Guinness

Scannán/Film: Waking Ned Devine

Clár Teilifíse/TV Show: Jeopardy

Leabhar/Book: Pride and Prejudice

Ainmhí/Animal: Madra/Dog

Laoch/Hero: Saighdiúirí/Soldiers

Áit in Éirinn/Place in Ireland: Rosmuc, Turlough, Co. na Gaillimhe

Mana saoil/Life motto: Lean ar aghaidh/Keep going!

Comhairle d’fhoghlaimeoirí nua/Advice for new learners of Irish: Try to find a way to use Irish every day…from just ‘thank you’ to longer phrases when doing house work or making dinner! Listen to Raidió na Gaeltacht via the internet! Have fun learning!!