Hey guys -
I want to learn Irish. But in doing my research I have found that there are several different dialects. I’m told there are three main ones: Munster, Connacht and Ulster.
What are the differences? Which is the ‘best’ one to learn? I have been looking into a language course in Co. Donegal, that would be Ulster, right?
Thanks all,
Beth
Hi Beth,
In my opinion the dialect issue is not relevant to a beginner. It is much more important to find a good teacher who will introduce the basics and have a fun approach to it. A good speaker of Irish can easily understand speakers with other dialects with a little patience and practice. It’s no big deal.
Ádh mor ort!
On 2002-10-03 18:50, avanutria wrote:
Hey guys -I want to learn Irish. But in doing my research I have found that there are several different dialects. I’m told there are three main ones: Munster, Connacht and Ulster.
What are the differences? Which is the ‘best’ one to learn? I have been looking into a language course in Co. Donegal, that would be Ulster, right?
Thanks all,
Beth
If Irish Gaelic speakers are anything like Scottish Gaelic speakers, and whatever they tell you, they obviously are, I wouldn’t bother with the ‘best’ question. Each will probably tell you their own is purest or best. A neutral is a non-speaker whose opinion would be worth diddley-squat. Oh, if there is still someone about who, like Seamus Ennis, could speak to everyone in their own dialect, then ask that person. But I think you’d just get the answer Seanduine just gave you. What are the chances of that? Seamus Ennis could speak Gaelic, drink beer, suck eggs and play the pipes all at the same time—we’ll not see his like again I suspect.
[ This Message was edited by: Wombat on 2002-10-04 06:52 ]
[ This Message was edited by: Wombat on 2002-10-04 06:54 ]
I believe that geographically Donegal is part of Connaught but I may be wrong. When you hear the regions speaking English, the most attractive accents seem to come from the south west (Munster) - maybe start there (all previous points noted and agreed).
Beth,
I may be wrong here, but as for Ulster, it is one of the old kingdoms in the north. I believe it contains all of what is now Northern Ireland, and a little besides that too.
Enya is said to have the “musical lilt of Ulster” in her Irish when she sings. Whatever it is, it’s nice to listen to!
B~
P.S. You may also try RTE’s site. They have several streaming radio stations, and one is in Irish all the time I think…
Beth - Are you going to ramble to Ireland to take this course? I’d be interested in learning some, too, but haven’t been able to find a convenient way to do it.
Susan
On 2002-10-04 09:04, susnfx wrote:
Beth - Are you going to ramble to Ireland to take this course? I’d be interested in learning some, too, but haven’t been able to find a convenient way to do it.
Susan
Hey Susan,
The Utah Hibernians have done an Irish class on Friday nights here in town from time to time, but they struggled since no one would come. I’ve been wanting to go for a long time too. Perhaps if we promised to go each week?? 
Ftr. Pat Carley is the instructor. He was raised in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, and speaks fluently.
Hi NickT,
Donegal is a county in Ulster, not Connacht. There are nine counties in Ulster; Donegal, Derry, Antrim, Down, Armagh, Tyrone, Fermanagh, Monaghan and Cavan. There are Irish speakers in all these counties with a large Gaeltacht in Donegal and a ‘mini Gaeltacht’ in Belfast. On the subject of dialects it is interesting to note that the musical styles associated with some of the west coast regions have close relationships to the nature of the language in these areas. Caoimhín Mac Aoidh has written an excellent article on this and a link to it was recently posted on the ITM messageboard.
On 2002-10-04 09:04, susnfx wrote:
Beth - Are you going to ramble to Ireland to take this course?
Susan - I think I’m gonna try!
Won’t be driving, though.
Brian - As usual my jaw drops in amazement! You know absolutely everything. I’d be there in a second, just tell me where and when. Fridays would be great for me since I don’t work Friday nights.
Susan
(I was just going to email you when I saw this post - completely OT: Lunasa’s The Last Pint that you and Beth were playing, what key whistles were you playing?)
Susan
I believe that one’s in F. Where did you hear it? In the car on the way to Kiirsi’s? I’m not familiar with that name, it’s in Gaelic on the CD.
Actually, it’s in whatever key we happen to have two whistles handy for, as I don’t have a good low F yet and we learned the fingering rather than the notes. We’ve done that one in F and D and I wouldn’t be surprised if we’ve used A, too.
On 2002-10-04 09:34, Seanduine wrote:
Hi NickT,
Donegal is a county in Ulster, not Connacht.
This sort of answers Brian’s question doesn’t it because, although in Ulster, Donegal is in the Republic.
Yes, you guys were playing it in the car. On the Lunasa first album CD I have (the re-release) the title is in Gaelic with an English subtitle. Now that I think of it, I believe you were playing that new Generation F you’d gotten that day - and of course I’ve got to get one since I can’t get that song out of my head today.
Susan
nah, do it on a d:
gggedegabgabaged
gggedegabgaba
gggedegabgabaged
gabgbhagfddefagg
I’ve got the thing tabbed out in a word document with the whistle tab font installed. I can mail it to you if you like.
Whistle font: http://members.shaw.ca/dabooks/music/
[ This Message was edited by: avanutria on 2002-10-04 10:38 ]