Seachtain na Gaeilge begins on the 1st of March and for many, the language steps out from the background and onto centre stage for this international festival. Here are some easy ways to use more Irish in your daily life.
Dírítear orthu siúd nach bhfuil an Ghaeilge in úsáid acu gach lá don fhéile seo ach is meabhrúchán maith í an fhéile go bhfuil an Ghaeilge timpeall orainn, ach í a úsáid.
An Ghaeilge sa timpeallacht oibre/ Using Irish at work.
If you're working and an office job, adding an email signature of 'is mise le meas' or 'beannachtaí' is a nice way to let others know you have some Irish. If you'd like to use more Irish in the work setting adding a line about 'fáilte roimh chomhfhreagras i nGaeilge', gives an option for those who also speak Irish to send their correspondence in Irish.
Many work places celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge by organising a get together, a lunchtime talk or simply a ciorcal comhrá. This is an easy one to keep going as a weekly chat or lunchtime hang.
Má cheapann tú gur tú an t-aon duine le Gaeilge san oifig, cuir thart r-phost agus tá muid nach mór cinnte go n-aimseoidh tú daoine eile atá ag cuartú deiseanna lena gcuid Gaeilge a úsáid. Is fánach an áit a bhfaighfeá an ghliomach Ghaelach!
An Ghaeilge sa chlann/ If you have kids
Using Irish at home can seem really daunting as many people don't know where to start; the easiest way to get around that is to start small. Using 'oíche mhaith', 'go raibh maith agat' etc as the starting point and seeing how easily kids absorb language is often very motivating.
Introducing some cartoons as Gaeilge via RTÉ or TG4 is another easy win. Puffin Rock and Peppa Muc are huge in our house and we are excited that Bluey as Gaeilge is on the way too.
Tá níos mó Gaeilge ar fáil ar na meáin ná ariamh, más spéis leat ábhar Gaeilge do pháistí, ní gá ach dul chomh fada le seinnteoir RTÉ/ TG4 agus dár ndóigh, Cúla4.
Get out and about/ Bí i measc na ndaoine
Meeting others who are interested in using their Irish is our most important top tip. Most people will be in the same boat, their Irish won't be perfect but they'll be trying to overcome that. Find out what's going on in your local community through Irish and get yourself out of the comfort zone, off your phone and into real life. Don't forget some of your favourite places like the National Gallery, Áras na Scríbhneoirí, IMMA and 14 Henrietta Street all do tours as Gaeilge.
Ní teanga go pobal labhartha. Fág síos an fón agus gabh amach ag labhairt le daoine eile agus mura bhfuil siad ar leac an dorais agat, fiosraigh le do leabharlann áitiúil nó féach ar na turais Ghaeilge atá ar fáil i do cheantarsa.
