Be a part of
‘The Big World of Irish’!
Considering Irish as a GCSE? Thinking about spending part of your summer in the Gaeltacht? Go for it! Bí linn! You just never know how great that Domhan Mór na Gaeilge – The Big World of Irish – could be!
Watch the videos
Playlist
Why learn Irish?
- Cultural Knowledge
Learning Irish helps you realise how beautiful the language is, how old the language is and how ingrained the language is in our heritage! It improves understanding of Gaeltacht areas and also helps you understand how English is spoken here, believe it or not, with Hiberno-English deriving from Gaeilge!
- Social Benefits
‘But sure Irish is a dead language?’ Actually, there is an ever-growing and diverse community of Irish speakers which means that the language is vibrant and constantly bustling with activity. Learning Irish, whether that be a cúpla focal or to be líofa, can open a whole world of social opportunity!
- Communication Skills
By studying Irish, you will develop presentation skills, develop spoken and written communication and learn interview-based skills, all of which improves your communication skills!
- Transferable Skills
By studying Irish, you will develop: Research / analytical skills and Critical-thinking skills, skills which are critical for a variety of different careers.
Did you know?
- The number of opportunities associated with Irish is increasing year on year. The number of job opportunities are increasing and being able to speak Irish opens a plethora of job opportunities in a number of different sectors.
- A language is more than just a way of speaking… it is also a way of thinking… Research shows that your personality can actually change depending on the language that you speak
- Irish is an official European Language since 2007 and has full legal entitlements within the European Union
- Learning Irish makes it easier to go on and learn a third and even a fourth language.
- Those considering teaching as a career should be aware that the ability to speak Irish provides a greater scope for job securement due to the growth of the Irish-medium sector
- Those considering primary teaching as a career should be aware that the study of Irish to A-level or Leaving Certificate is a requirement to teach in English-medium or Irish-medium primary schools in the Republic of Ireland.
- The study of a second language to GCSE level is a requirement to meet the college entry requirements for most courses at the NUI colleges (University of Galway, Maynooth University, UCD, UCC), UL and Trinity College.
Benefits of Bilingualism
Did you know? Studies Show…
- That learning a second language boosts self-confidence
- That bilingual students tend to perform better in education
- That those who learn a second language achieve higher overall results in their GCSEs
- That bilinguals tend to be more creative and flexible
- That bilinguals are more open-minded and are more open to people of different views and outlooks
- That bilinguals have an increased ability to show empathy
- That bilinguals are more effective at multitasking
- That unemployment levels are much lower among bilinguals
- That being bilingual can delay the onset of Dementia and Alzheimers
Testimonials
Meet the people who studied GCSE Irish
Name:
Aoife Coyle
Your current occupation:
Accountant
Your current location:
Dublin
How did choosing GCSE Irish help you?
After studying GCSE and A-Level Irish I worked in the Gaeltacht for 4 summers. Many of the skills I gained through Irish and from other Gaeilgeoirí are also key competencies for many employers such as communication, leadership, motivation and adaptability. I found that I was able to use my experience with Irish to my advantage when doing interviews for the role I am in today and will also feed off that experience for any future jobs I may have.
Name:
Caitríona McAteer
Your current occupation:
Communications Administrator, TG4
Your current location:
Baile na hAbhann, Connemara, Galway
How did choosing GCSE Irish help you?
TG4 is a public service broadcaster, based in the Connemara Gaeltacht, who provide a wide range of Irish language content daily for a core Gaeltacht and Irish language audience, as well as the wider national public and overseas viewers. I use the Irish language every day when liaising with colleagues, communicating with production companies, the media, etc. Without a doubt, choosing GCSE Irish helped develop my language skills that are essential in my job and developed my love and appreciation for Gaeilge and the Gaeltacht. I also believe it really helped develop my skills in communication, organisation, and adaptability, all of which are crucial in my current role.
Name:
Caolán Ó Coisneacháin
Your current occupation:
Learning and Outreach Facilitator
Your current location:
Belfast
How did choosing GCSE Irish help you?
I work with an organisation called ‘Turas’ in East Belfast to promote reconciliation through the Irish language. We are very much a cross-community organisation, with many of our 400+ learners coming from Protestant/Unionist backgrounds. We work to remove the stigmas that many unionists associate with the language, and to make it accessible to people of all backgrounds. My work involves community outreach, including working with local schools, and teaching classes for adults. Doing GCSE Irish began my journey and helped make this possible.
Name:
Eimear Reel
Your current occupation:
Doctor
Your current location:
Ireland
How did choosing GCSE Irish help you?
Learning Irish for GCSE helped me improve my communication skills and my confidence in public speaking. This has been very important for me as a doctor to be able to communicate well with my patients. I think it is very important to learn your national language and have a greater appreciation for your culture and traditions.
Name:
Éimear Thornbury
Your current occupation:
Student nurse/influencer
Your current location:
Co. Armagh
How did choosing GCSE Irish help you?
I am so glad that I chose Irish for GCSE, I thoroughly enjoyed being able to talk to my friends in my native language. Irish GCSE gave me confidence and improved my communication skills, which is vital for any career path! I have transferred the translation skills that I gained during GCSE Irish to my current degree and find it a lot easier to remember medical jargon!
Name:
John Catterson
Your current occupation:
Architect
Your current location:
Belfast
How did choosing GCSE Irish help you?
Studying Irish at GCSE and A-Level has proven to be of great benefit for my chosen career path. Not only has it improved my public speaking skills which are vital for communicating my design ideas in practice, it has also informed my master’s dissertation and thesis research. This research focuses on the role architecture should play in facilitating the growth of the Irish language in Belfast’s City Centre. The practice I currently work with is responsible for notable Irish language buildings within Belfast’s Gaeltacht Quarter and has enabled me to continue the use of the language daily.
Name:
Kathryn Ní Mhaoláin
Your current occupation:
Business English teacher
Your current location:
Barcelona, Spain
How did choosing GCSE Irish help you?
My decision to study Irish for GCSE ultimately led me to become fluent in the language, vastly increasing the opportunities I have had in the Irish speaking world and outside of it. I’ve had the opportunity to appear on Irish TV and radio and have released an EP and a podcast in Irish. Having previously worked as a Maths teacher in an Irish medium school, I decided to take my knowledge of multilingualism and my experience in learning a second language to move to Spain and teach English here. The communication skills and confidence I gained from choosing GCSE Irish have been immensely valuable to me in my personal and professional life.
Name:
Michael McKay
Your current occupation:
Doctor
Your current location:
Brisbane, Australia
How did choosing GCSE Irish help you?
Learning Irish at GCSE armed me with many faculties in regard to spoken word, listening, comprehension, and reading skills which are paramount to my job today. Learning another language has allowed me to be more concise and deliberate in communication – important skills in time-critical tasks.
In addition, it provided me with a deeper understanding of our Irish culture and heritage which allows me to still connect to home.
Déan fís díot féin
Le bheith san áireamh déan fís díot féin ag léamh an dá shliocht seo a leanas sa ghuth is fearr a oireann do Bhricriú dar leat. Bain úsáid as geatsaíocht na lámh agus aisteoireacht phisiciúil. Spriocdháta: 15 Feabhra 2022
English
Take Irish…yeah deadly. You go to the Gaeltacht…some craic.
My brother has a teacher who took them to Donegal… at night they looked up at the sky and saw a shooting star. They could hear the sea all night. And lighthouse kept shining in the window. The Bean an Tí made mega curry and rice he said and a massive bowl of chips. It was pure cla’… They learned loads of words you don’t get taught in school. Broim is fart. Bladar is when you talk rubbish. Faic is nothing and lofa is rotten. Irish is our language.
Gaeilge
An Ghaeilge…cinnte… ghlacfainn í – Téann tú chun na Gaeltachta… craic ar dóigh.
Tá múinteoir ag mo dheartháir a thóg go Dún na Gall iad… san oíche d’amharc siad suas ar an spéir agus chonaic réalta reatha. Thiocfadh leo an fharraige a chloisteáil an oíche ar fad. Agus bhíodh Teach an tSolais ag lonradh isteach ar an fhuinneog. Dhéanadh bean a’ tí curaí agus rís agus babhla mór sceallógaí. Bhí sé thar barr… d’fhoghlaim siad a lán focal nach dteagascann siad duit ar scoil. Ciallaíonn ‘broim’ fart agus ‘lofa’ rotten. ‘Sí ár dteanga dhúchais í.
Uaslódáil d'fhíseán
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Spriocdháta: 15 Feabhra 2022
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Tell us about your 'Big World of Irish'
Did you do Irish at GCSE? Or go to the Gaeltacht? Did you have an amazing journey in the big world of Irish, tell your story here and inspire the next generation.
