How to learn Irish

Start from where you are

Many people learning Irish in Ireland aren't beginners. Twelve or thirteen years of school Irish leave a lot behind: vocabulary you'd recognise, phrases you could still say, and grammar you half remember. What's usually missing is the confidence to speak. If that's you, read how to brush up your school Irish: you'll get further, faster, by skipping what you know.

If you're starting from nothing, or learning from abroad, start with greetings, introducing yourself and numbers, and get used to how Irish is spelled and sounds. A course with audio for every phrase matters more for Irish than for most languages, because the spelling doesn't tell an English speaker how to say it.

Decide which Irish to learn

Irish has three main dialects, Munster, Connacht and Ulster, and a written standard, An Caighdeán Oifigiúil, which is what schools, exams and official documents use. Learning the standard with an ear for one dialect is the usual route, and any of them will be understood everywhere. Irish or Gaelic? The language and its dialects explains the differences.

Every day: an app

Short daily practice is what keeps a language alive. An app is the easiest way to do it: ten minutes on the bus or before bed. Pick one that makes you speak out loud, not just tap on words. Here's why Dúisigh is the best app to learn Irish.

Dúisigh works for every level, from complete beginners up: every lesson ends with you saying it, a placement check skips what you already know, and AI conversations let you practise ordering a coffee or chatting with a neighbour in Irish. The first two units are free.

Every week: a class or a conversation group

• Online and evening classes. Gaelchultúr runs Irish classes for adults at every level, in Dublin and live online, and Conradh na Gaeilge runs classes around the country. Local education and training boards, libraries and colleges often have evening courses too.
• Conversation circles. A ciorcal comhrá is an informal group that meets to chat in Irish, often in a café, pub or library. Pop Up Gaeltacht nights do the same on a bigger scale. All levels are welcome, and they're the best way to start speaking with real people.
• Exams and qualifications. If you want a certificate, the TEG exams (Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge) test Irish for adults at levels A1 to C1, in line with the European framework. Several universities offer part-time diplomas in Irish.

When you're ready: the Gaeltacht

The Gaeltacht is the network of Irish-speaking areas, mostly along the west coast: in Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Kerry, Cork and Waterford, plus Ráth Cairn and Baile Ghib in Meath. A week there, hearing Irish in the shop and the pub, does more for your speaking than months of study.

Adult courses run mostly in summer. Oideas Gael in Gleann Cholm Cille, Co. Donegal, has run week-long courses for adults at every level since 1984, with cultural activities in the afternoons. Look for courses in other Gaeltacht areas too, so you can pick the dialect you want.

All the time: listen, watch and read

• TG4, the Irish-language TV channel, with English subtitles on most programmes and a free player online.
• RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, national radio in Irish, with presenters from all three dialects.
• Tuairisc.ie for daily news in Irish, and NÓS for culture and lifestyle.
• Children's TV on TG4's Cúla4: simple, clear Irish that's ideal for learners.

Free tools worth bookmarking

• Teanglann.ie: dictionaries and grammar tables, with recordings of each word in Munster, Connacht and Ulster Irish.
• Foclóir.ie: the modern English–Irish dictionary, with example sentences and audio.
• abair.ie: type any Irish and hear it read aloud in a dialect of your choice.
• Téarma.ie: the national terminology database, for modern and technical words.

Common questions