As the well-known Irish seanfhocail goes, tír gan teanga, tír gan anam – (a country without a language is a country without a soul).
The Irish language has seen a surge in popularity recently, with online study tool Studyclix saying this comes down to the ‘Kneecap effect’.
According to the study tool’s recent survey, 68 per cent of sixth-year students report a love and appreciation for the language.
This love for and pride in the Irish language translates into Duolingo statistics as well, with the online learning platform’s figures showing roughly 1 million people actively learning Irish at any given time, while more than 5 million people have started learning Irish outside of Ireland using Duolingo alone.
The 2022 census showed almost 1.9 million people stated they could speak Irish, an increase of more than 112,500 people since census 2016 (up six per cent).
Many people are looking to learn or relearn the Irish language, with the percentage of people living in Ireland being able to speak the language growing by 71 per cent since 1991.
So, how can you incorporate more Irish into your day-to-day life?
The best way is to start small and with easy words or phrases that can be readily understood by others in your everyday life.
Start saying ‘dia duit’ instead of ‘hello’, and ‘slán’ instead of goodbye. Before you know it, you will greet and depart from people while using Irish without even realising it.
Some pubs across the country appreciate the use of a cúpla focal on their premises, and even reward it with a discount on a drink!
Practise ordering as Gaeilge and be prepared for your next trip to one of these places!
@itsmandycherie Replying to @Méadbh Ordering Guinness in Irish in Dublin ☘️🇮🇪 #dublin #gaeilge #irish #irishlanguage #ireland ♬ original sound – Mandy Cherie
Other simple phrases you can swap out for the Irish version include:
- Look at this – Féach ar seo;
- Well done – Maith thú;
- Come here – Tar anseo;
- Take it easy – Tóg go bog é;
- Hurry up – Brostaigh ort;
- Don’t be worried – Ná bí buartha
- Good night – Oíche mhaith.
Irish sayings
If you want to branch out a bit more, you could slip in some Irish sayings, or seanfhocail, into your daily vocabulary.
Some of the better known ones include:
- Your health is your wealth – Is fearr an tsláinte ná na táinte;
- There’s no hearth like your own hearth – Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin;
- Broken Irish is better than clever English – Is fearr Gaeilge bhriste ná Béarla clíste;
- A good start is half the work – Tús maith leath na hoibre;
- It takes one to know one – Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile;
- However long the day, night comes – Dá fhad lá tagann oíche.
The Irish language is a one-of-a-kind, and this newfound appreciation is a testament to all those who fought hard to keep it alive.
Chat to your friends and family as Gaeilge, and try and see if you can interact with some strangers in Irish too. Ádh mór!
