Haileo mo chairde!
Don't forget 2 oldies but goodies: LISTSERV & IRC
If we really want to learn a language like Irish (Gaeilge) we will have to immerse ourselves as much as possible... by any means (legal) necessary!
One way is to join an e-mail group of others around the world interested in learning the same thing, like: https://listserv.heanet.ie/cgi-bin/wa?A0=GAEILGE-B <---- listserv e-mail
or
http://gogloom.com/client2/index2?mainCHAT=1&network=QuakeNet&channel=%23gaeilge
Now if you already have an IRC client and prefer to use that, then point your client to irc.quakenet.org
and type /join #gaeilge... and talk to all 5 of us there! lol otherwise just use the broswer for "webchat"
Slán,
M.A.
Friday, June 14, 2013
Baby steps... in Irish (as Gaeilge)
I just stumbled across this...
(yes, I often stumble across things late or after almost everyone else knows about it, and I am trying to hurry up and remedy that!)
Just getting started? Need to take "baby steps"? Well ... here ya go:
http://learn-irish.language101.com/lesson/?id=62075871
AFTER you're a little more comfortable.... I'd suggest going here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/irish/blas/learners/beag1/lesson1.shtml (Giota beag)
and after that, try out their Giota beag éile: http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/irish/blas/learners/beag2/lesson1.shtml
Giota beag (a wee bit) and Giota beag éile (another wee bit)
Now bear in mind that the BBC-NI Blas ... Giota beag courses are in a Ulster (Ullamh) dialect.
So you should still be understood by those using standard or Connemara, but there will be some differences, such are the spices of learning languages.
For some reason I prefer the North and Western dialects to the Standard School dialect, but that's just me. there's also the Munster (Mumhan?) dialect. My advice is ... try all these out, and then get a feel for what you prefer, then go for it, and don't be afraid, we all make mistakes. Just keep practicing!
Slán,
M.A.
(yes, I often stumble across things late or after almost everyone else knows about it, and I am trying to hurry up and remedy that!)
Just getting started? Need to take "baby steps"? Well ... here ya go:
http://learn-irish.language101.com/lesson/?id=62075871
AFTER you're a little more comfortable.... I'd suggest going here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/irish/blas/learners/beag1/lesson1.shtml (Giota beag)
and after that, try out their Giota beag éile: http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/irish/blas/learners/beag2/lesson1.shtml
Giota beag (a wee bit) and Giota beag éile (another wee bit)
Now bear in mind that the BBC-NI Blas ... Giota beag courses are in a Ulster (Ullamh) dialect.
So you should still be understood by those using standard or Connemara, but there will be some differences, such are the spices of learning languages.
For some reason I prefer the North and Western dialects to the Standard School dialect, but that's just me. there's also the Munster (Mumhan?) dialect. My advice is ... try all these out, and then get a feel for what you prefer, then go for it, and don't be afraid, we all make mistakes. Just keep practicing!
Slán,
M.A.
About the name of this blog and other things...
Dia daoibh a chairde! Hello friends! (God be with you friends, is what it really says)
Now, about that "God" part...
Here's my take on that, you can either agree, disagree or form a different position, you might already have a different position, but, as this is my blog, I'll make an attempt to describe my opinion on why I think this is okay to use, even if one is an Atheist.
I think, that there is really no other way to really say "hello" in Irish, so we're just kind of stuck with that way of saying "hello".
Also, I think that "God" can be interpreted internally, by anyone ... in an acceptable way for themselves.
An example would be ... "God just means the highest possible, the best case scenario, the greatest hopes etc etc, Now ... as an American, I tend to drive some native British Isles folks crazy... We're just too positive, but hey, I have my negative days, don't mind that one extra positive day now and then :)
I think that ... as for me ... I don't care, I just want to communicate, and although I don't have great faith in many different religious paths, technically, I'm a Buddhist (not practicing it so well lately, but that's another story for another blog). Having said THAT though, I'd be comfortable at/in any Church, Synagogue, Mosque, Gurudwara, whatever, etc. Until recently I had been a practicing Catholic
(I stopped going over 4 years ago, I have my reasons)... nevertheless, I can say the rosary and maybe even do the whole stations of the cross thing, etc etc ... and I don't mind it, it just doesn't bug me at all.
I don't care about Catholic or Protestant or Buddhist or Atheist or Islamic or Jewish.... those things are one's family's culture and/or personal preference or taste/comfort zone. I do not feel the need to put these faiths down, nor do I feel the need to be overly accomodating, it's quite liberating actually.
Okay, enough of that.... so Dia dhuit ...
(the singular way of saying it to one person) works just fine for me, just saying.
Now, the next thing is ... why the word "American-Irish", well, it's because, in my case, my Irish ancestors came to America over 200 years ago. I am not trying to BE Irish as in claiming I'm the same as an Irish national... nope, that is not my aim nor my claim.
I do feel a kinship of sorts, because, even my grandpa told me we are Americans, but we're Irish too.
I think he was trying to say, "don't forget your Irish background" and it must've worked, because I never have forgotten that. All I want to do is learn the language as best as I can, I already have an appreciation for the music going on 30+ years.
This is why I use the term American-Irish rather than Irish-American. In my opinion Irish-American is someone who was born in Ireland and emigrated to the USA, or maybe even down to their children and grandchildren... like ... Desmond Bishop, I'd call him an Irish-American. I think even old Eamon de Valera was born in the USA of Spanish and Irish born parents, so he would qualify as an Irish-American (but since he was president or something ... well, we can just call him an Irishman and that's that? But that's up to you folks born and raised in Ireland).
As for me, I think it is not right or correct or accurate to refer myself as an Irish-American, obviously with over 200 years in North America (some parts of the family have been in North America since about the 1680s). This is too long of a time over here for me to feel like saying "Irish-American",
so, instead, I prefer the term American or American-Irish. I've even toyed with the term (like Celtiberian) Celtamerican or Americeltican LOL. But even the word "Celt" these days seems pre-loaded with some sort of Baggage.
So, all in all, for now, I prefer to just be called American or American-Irish, I *AM* an American and that's that. BUT .... there is NO DOUBT about my Irish ancestry (we have the family stories, DNA and the public record to prove that).
Since this blog is going to be (chiefly or mainly) about Americans of Irish ancestry, language & culture
I thought it appropriate to name it "American-Irish". Hopefully this satisfies anyone's curiosity as to the name of this blog.
Now ... what about the name Madra Airgid (this is how I describe, in Irish, our supposed coat of arms, with a silver or grey Greyhound or Wolfhound on the shield) (O'Fallon).
Well now, this has already been too long winded today. Slán!
M.A. (Madra Airgid)
Now, about that "God" part...
Here's my take on that, you can either agree, disagree or form a different position, you might already have a different position, but, as this is my blog, I'll make an attempt to describe my opinion on why I think this is okay to use, even if one is an Atheist.
I think, that there is really no other way to really say "hello" in Irish, so we're just kind of stuck with that way of saying "hello".
Also, I think that "God" can be interpreted internally, by anyone ... in an acceptable way for themselves.
An example would be ... "God just means the highest possible, the best case scenario, the greatest hopes etc etc, Now ... as an American, I tend to drive some native British Isles folks crazy... We're just too positive, but hey, I have my negative days, don't mind that one extra positive day now and then :)
I think that ... as for me ... I don't care, I just want to communicate, and although I don't have great faith in many different religious paths, technically, I'm a Buddhist (not practicing it so well lately, but that's another story for another blog). Having said THAT though, I'd be comfortable at/in any Church, Synagogue, Mosque, Gurudwara, whatever, etc. Until recently I had been a practicing Catholic
(I stopped going over 4 years ago, I have my reasons)... nevertheless, I can say the rosary and maybe even do the whole stations of the cross thing, etc etc ... and I don't mind it, it just doesn't bug me at all.
I don't care about Catholic or Protestant or Buddhist or Atheist or Islamic or Jewish.... those things are one's family's culture and/or personal preference or taste/comfort zone. I do not feel the need to put these faiths down, nor do I feel the need to be overly accomodating, it's quite liberating actually.
Okay, enough of that.... so Dia dhuit ...
(the singular way of saying it to one person) works just fine for me, just saying.
Now, the next thing is ... why the word "American-Irish", well, it's because, in my case, my Irish ancestors came to America over 200 years ago. I am not trying to BE Irish as in claiming I'm the same as an Irish national... nope, that is not my aim nor my claim.
I do feel a kinship of sorts, because, even my grandpa told me we are Americans, but we're Irish too.
I think he was trying to say, "don't forget your Irish background" and it must've worked, because I never have forgotten that. All I want to do is learn the language as best as I can, I already have an appreciation for the music going on 30+ years.
This is why I use the term American-Irish rather than Irish-American. In my opinion Irish-American is someone who was born in Ireland and emigrated to the USA, or maybe even down to their children and grandchildren... like ... Desmond Bishop, I'd call him an Irish-American. I think even old Eamon de Valera was born in the USA of Spanish and Irish born parents, so he would qualify as an Irish-American (but since he was president or something ... well, we can just call him an Irishman and that's that? But that's up to you folks born and raised in Ireland).
As for me, I think it is not right or correct or accurate to refer myself as an Irish-American, obviously with over 200 years in North America (some parts of the family have been in North America since about the 1680s). This is too long of a time over here for me to feel like saying "Irish-American",
so, instead, I prefer the term American or American-Irish. I've even toyed with the term (like Celtiberian) Celtamerican or Americeltican LOL. But even the word "Celt" these days seems pre-loaded with some sort of Baggage.
So, all in all, for now, I prefer to just be called American or American-Irish, I *AM* an American and that's that. BUT .... there is NO DOUBT about my Irish ancestry (we have the family stories, DNA and the public record to prove that).
Since this blog is going to be (chiefly or mainly) about Americans of Irish ancestry, language & culture
I thought it appropriate to name it "American-Irish". Hopefully this satisfies anyone's curiosity as to the name of this blog.
Now ... what about the name Madra Airgid (this is how I describe, in Irish, our supposed coat of arms, with a silver or grey Greyhound or Wolfhound on the shield) (O'Fallon).
Well now, this has already been too long winded today. Slán!
M.A. (Madra Airgid)
Irish Language Resources Online ... for FREE!
If you haven't discovered this by now.... please have a look at 2 sites:
1. BBC-NI... BLAS http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/irish/blas/
and ....
2. RTE Easy Irish! http://www.rte.ie/easyirish/courseintro.html
Tóg go bóg é! (Take care, take it easy...)
Madra Airgid (Silver Dog)
1. BBC-NI... BLAS http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/irish/blas/
and ....
2. RTE Easy Irish! http://www.rte.ie/easyirish/courseintro.html
Tóg go bóg é! (Take care, take it easy...)
Madra Airgid (Silver Dog)
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Two MUST SEE youtube videos.... if....
Two must see youtube videos if you are really interested in the Irish language ...
1. No Béarla with Manchán Magan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyll-bBZzyk&list=SPF7C9A5708D68A515&index=4
and
2. Learning Irish in 1 year (In the Name of the Fada) with Des Bishop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXNfEP2nZoQ
Enjoy! More to come!
Slán,
Silver Dog aka Madra Airgid
(Labhrás Ó Fallamhain)
1. No Béarla with Manchán Magan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyll-bBZzyk&list=SPF7C9A5708D68A515&index=4
and
2. Learning Irish in 1 year (In the Name of the Fada) with Des Bishop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXNfEP2nZoQ
Enjoy! More to come!
Slán,
Silver Dog aka Madra Airgid
(Labhrás Ó Fallamhain)
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Cead Míle Fáilte!
Welcome!
This is a place where I will document my adventures into Irish Language,
Genealogy & Culture. I just needed a place to store my "online travels"
and to document things as I go... on the fly.
I also thought it would be nice to start an online "Gaeltacht" of sorts, for those of us who have this burning desire to learn, not only the language, but the culture of Ireland, many of us no doubt have Irish ancestry and wish to document that as well.
Tis a "project mór" as Gaeilglish :) (It's a big project) ... I know, but here we go!
Go raibh míle maith agaibh mo chairde!
Slán,
Labhrás Ó Fallamhain aka Madra Airgid
This is a place where I will document my adventures into Irish Language,
Genealogy & Culture. I just needed a place to store my "online travels"
and to document things as I go... on the fly.
I also thought it would be nice to start an online "Gaeltacht" of sorts, for those of us who have this burning desire to learn, not only the language, but the culture of Ireland, many of us no doubt have Irish ancestry and wish to document that as well.
Tis a "project mór" as Gaeilglish :) (It's a big project) ... I know, but here we go!
Go raibh míle maith agaibh mo chairde!
Slán,
Labhrás Ó Fallamhain aka Madra Airgid
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