The Irish Language is dying folks, there’s no two ways about it. Irish will disappear if we don’t do something about it. I studied Irish for 12 years and I didn’t learn a thing. Now I’d like to think that this says more about the way Irish is taught than it does about my own particular academic prowess!

It’s simple – the way Irish is taught in schools all over our country doesn’t work. Don’t get me wrong – you may get the coveted A1 in your leaving cert, but will this really help you when you’re in a bar in rural Connemara trying to order a pint of the black stuff. The odd road sign or ATM machine that offers us the option of using our native tongue just doesn’t cut it. If we want to learn how to speak Irish again, you know what we have to do – Speak Irish!

'Caint' is not aimed at encouraging people with no Irish to learn Irish; 'Caint' is aimed at encouraging people who 'have' Irish to help the people who haven't!

How can we expect someone to learn the language if no one speaks it to them? We already know that studying doesn’t work so we have to talk. Let’s give the young people of this country a collective kick up the arse! Indeed sometimes it’s the only way forward with an Irishman (or woman, there’ll be no sexism here)

To the Irish speakers of Ireland I ask a favor: Throw on a T-Shirt and show your support! Show that you’re open minded to helping, encouraging and listening to someone with a lesser standard of Irish than your own! Let’s help those people with broken Irish! The people who cant tell their ‘Modh Coinniolach’ from their ‘Tuiseal Gineadach’! The people who love Irish but are just too dammed embarrassed to give it a shot and speak the language they love!

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful people can change the world, indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has” Margaret Mead.

Click To Play

Click To Play