We spoke to the comedian and presenter, Fred Cooke about his journey with the Irish language, from just about getting through the Leaving Cert to raising a child bilingually and the time he spent in Rann na Feirste as part of the show Réaltaí na Gaeltachta.
Labhair muid leis an bhfuirseoir Fred Cooke faoin gclár Réaltaí na Gaeltachta atá ag tosú an tseachtain seo ar RTÉ ONE faoina aistear féin leis an nGaeilge agus a thaithí i nGaeltachta Dhún na nGall.
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Cooke explains his son, Ted, is starting to speak Irish and his wife, Julie, is a Gaeilgeoir so it was about time he learned how to speak Irish to take part in conversations at home. He says since the show was recorded he is much more comfortable using the Irish he has with his family in Kerry than he was before the experience.
Like most people, Fred said he had some Irish but he felt like he had to move it from the back of his mind to the front in order to use it comfortably.
Fred spent some time in the Donegal Gaeltacht of Rann na Feirste last summer along with writer, Amanda Brunker, broadcaster, Des Cahill, content creator Lauren Whelan and Mayo footballer-turned-AFL-player Oisín Mullin.
Despite describing his level of Irish as 'go dona', Fred says he improved quickly thanks to the immersion into the Irish only environment and enjoyed his time in the Northwest. He says this show illustrates that it's okay to not be fluent but to give your cúpla focal a go and not be intimidated by those who are more líofa than you or by the language itself.
Réaltaí na Gaeltachta, 28 Feabhra ag 7pm ar RTÉ ONE
