St. Brigid's Day: An Evolving Celebration

She might have been around at least half a millennium already, but her stock is now on the rise. Introducing St. Brigid, Ireland’s new (and oldest) feminist icon.

Brian Friel: Language, Colonization and Translations

Sometimes referred to as the “Irish Chekhov,” Brian Friel is considered by many to be one of the greatest playwrights of his generation, in both Ireland and abroad. During the five decades that spanned his…

Máirtín Ó Díreáin: A Voice of the Gaeltacht in Modern Irish Poetry

Máirtín Ó Díreáin is credited, along with his contemporaries Seán Ó Ríordáin and Máire Mhac an tSaoi, for breathing new life into Irish language modernist poetry. While other writers of the Gaelic Revival…

10 Irish Language Shorts to Improve your Irish

From Irish-speaking assassins to children trying to figure out how the world works, this list of Irish language shorts will help liven up your study of the language. Enjoy some of the classics still given to…

10 Authentic Ways to Celebrate Irish Culture this St. Patrick’s Day

Observed around the world, St. Patrick’s Day is a chance for everyone to embrace the Irish culture, regardless of where they are or what their heritage might be. It’s a day to don yourself in green, enjoy a…

Na hOileáin Árann: A History of the Aran Islands

Finally, another part of the Aran Islands’ identity comes from being a Gaeltacht. Although Oliver Cromwell did arrive on the islands during his conquest of Ireland in the mid-17th century and set up a defensive…

Na Fíréin: Trailblazers of Irish Language Rock

In the seventies, musicians Colm Mac Séalaigh, Gearóid Ó Murchú and Ken Mac Diarmada visited the Welsh cultural festival Eisteddfod. They were impressed by the contemporary bands they found singing in the…

How Learning Irish Will Improve Your Love Life...

From having the craic to chasing cailíní, if you want to understand Ireland you’re going to have to do it as Gaeilge…

Getting a Gaelic Tattoo

A Gaelic tattoo is a visual tribute to a connection you feel with Ireland. Perhaps you have the Celtic culture in your blood, or you’ve visited Ireland and made meaningful memories there. It might be that you…

20 of the Best Irish Language Films

Irish language films are experiencing something of a renaissance. With more films being made every decade and with greater budgets to work with, Gaeilge is finding its way to the screen with increasing fervor.…

Who was Pangur Bán?

Written in the 9th century, the poem “Pangur Bán” is one of the oldest surviving texts from Early Ireland. Delivered in eight stanzas of four lines each, the verses explore the similarities of the author’s…

An Mór-Ríoghan: The Morrigan in Irish Mythology

An Mór-Ríoghan—or the Morrigan, in English—is a figure that evolved and somewhat changed throughout Irish mythology. Nonetheless, she is most commonly associated as the goddess of battle and war, and in the…

50 Irish Names for Boys (and their Pronunciation)

Looking for baby names or curious what a name signifies? Check out this list of 50 Irish Names for Boys, with their meaning and pronunciation.

50 Irish Names for Girls (and their Pronunciation)

Want to find a special female name (or how it’s pronounced)? Here’s a list of 50 Irish Names for Girls, with their meaning and pronunciation.

Tóraíocht Dhiarmada agus Ghráinne

As Irish mythology confirms, the love triangle has long been a classic trope in storytelling. Tóraíocht Dhiarmada agus Ghráinne, one of the major stories of the Fenian Cycle of ancient Irish texts, features the…

What is the Fenian Cycle (an Fhiannaíocht)?

The Fenian Cycle follows Fionn’s life, from conception to supposed death in the Battle of Gabhra, and details his exploits in between. This body of texts is sometimes called the Ossianic Cycle, because Foinn’s…

Three Scary Figures from Irish Folklore

While the typical Halloween images of witches, skeletons and zombies may seem fairly mundane to us now, those in Ancient Ireland believed themselves to be vexed by certain malicious characters they sought not…

An Bhean Sí - the Story of the Banshee in Irish Folklore

This mystical female image has been a part of Irish culture for many centuries, with the oldest surviving account tracing back to 1380. Translating as “fairy woman” or “woman of the fairy mound,” the…

An Táin Bó Cúailnge: Ireland’s National Epic

Of the vast body of ancient literature captured in the four cycles (or collections) of Irish mythology, An Táin Bó Cúailnge may be the most important and beloved story of them all. Sometimes referred to in…

What is the Ulster Cycle (an Rúraíocht)?

For purposes of classification, many legends and sagas from Ireland’s medieval manuscripts are gathered into one of four “cycles,” or collections grouped by content and style. Also known as the Red Branch…

Movie Review: Kneecap

If you find a theatre with seat belts, it might be a good idea to strap in. Kneecap offers one hell of a ride.

The Tailteann Games: Ireland’s Ancient Olympics

Just as the Olympics are based on a Greek sporting contest that took place in the 8th century BC, so did Ireland revive an ancient tradition upon becoming a free state in the 1920s. The Tailteann Games, held…

10 Common Questions about Learning Irish

Thinking about learning Irish? Being able to speak “as Gaeilge” is a rewarding and fulfilling experience. Learning Irish opens doors to a wider community of…

Learn Irish the SMART Way!

“One of the most common reasons that Irish learners fall away is not a lack of effort in pursuing the language, but a lack of planning.”

Who is Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill?

Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill has been credited with for playing a significant role in the revival of Irish language poetry. Between her poetry and her advocacy, she has shown the Irish language to be one that doesn’t…

Memory Hacks for Learning Irish Gaelic

At the heart of any successful language learning is one thing: routine. Practicing the language regularly, even in small doses, leads to consistent progress. Here are some tips to help you incorporate Irish…

Who was Liam Ó Flaithearta?

Liam Ó Flaithearta (O’Flaherty in English) was a bold voice in early 20th century Irish writing, being a groundbreaking author for both his style and his political views. During his lifetime he achieved…

10 Places to Visit in the Gaeltacht

Whether you’re looking to use your Irish in real life or simply want to explore the most traditional parts of Ireland, a visit to a Gaeltacht should be on your agenda. To help you out, here’s our list of 10…

Na Rónta: The Folklore of Seals in Ireland

Being a coastal island, Ireland has developed a close relationship with ‘na rónta’ (seals) throughout its history. Sometimes the bane of fishermen, sometimes a source of food and supplies in difficult times,…

Who was Peig Sayers?

Máire Ní Dhálaigh, from the Office of Public Works’s Blasket Centre, gave what is likely the most accurate and fair description of Peig Sayers: “Peig was the Netflix of her time.”

Peig Sayers was born in 1873…

Seamus Heaney and the Irish Language

Seamus Heaney, Ireland’s Noble Laureate, was a poet who saw himself positioned on the borderline between identities. His father was a cattle-dealer and a farmer, while his mother’s side worked at the local…

The Irish Language and the Catholic Church: A Nuanced Consideration

While the Irish people fought for autonomy for centuries under British rule, the first concern of the Catholic Church, being a world religion, was to extend its influence…

Gaelic vs. Irish: The History of Each Term

It’s a common experience: You might be telling someone that you’re learning Irish or describing an encounter with the language, and that person looks at you with a blank face and says, “By ‘Irish,’ do you…

10 Famous Irish Speakers

People in the spotlight, whether by chance or design, often become ambassadors of various causes. Sports athletes, musicians, actors and social media influencers have the platforms to draw attention to…

Saint Gobnait: the Gaeltacht's Saint

On February 11th every year, people line up to visit the ruins in Dún Chaoin, situated in the Gaeltacht of County Kerry. The stones are believed to belong to a convent founded in the sixth century by…

The Irish Origins of Hallowe'en

Dressing up, trick-or-treating, bonfires…Hallowe’en (Oíche Shamhna in Irish) is an unusual but beloved holiday. Because of its prevalence in the United States (although it is…

What is Bealtaine? The Celtic Summer Festival Examined

Everyone welcomes the start of summer. With longer days, better weather, and being able to put the cattle out to pasture, the Celts knew it…

An Cailín Ciúin: The History-Making Irish Film

Previously, the conventional wisdom was that producing an Irish-language film was a fool’s errand if you were a serious filmmaker. That was, until Colm Bairéad…

The 12 Best Free Resources for Learning Irish

This guide of the 12 best free online resources for learning Irish will help you be independently active in your learning journey.

Member Profile: Dalton Miller

Introducing Dalton Miller, an advanced level Irish learner who enjoys the minutiae and particulars of the language.

What is Ogham and How Was it Used in Ireland?

It was inevitable that as languages evolved in early human settlement, communities would eventually came to the conclusion that it would be useful to record…

Member Profile: Dónal Grogan

Meet Dónal Grogan, a Cúntóir Teanga (Language Helper) who makes his home in Colorado, USA, and who loves to help others learn Irish online.

Member Profile: Clydette Powell

Today we interview Irish language learner Clydette Powell, an enthusiastic student of Irish living in Washington DC!

A Brief Guide to Irish Dialects

While speakers of the three Irish dialects can understand each other, each ‘canúint’ also has unique characteristics of pronunciation and grammar…

6 Reasons Why The Irish Language Declined

From English conquest to An Gorta Mór, here are 6 reasons for the decline of the Irish language, and how you can play a part in its revival.

Why Learn Irish? Here's 4 Less Obvious Reasons

Here are 4 less obvious reasons to embrace learning Irish, from personal development to improving brain function.