Learning Irish and Moving to Ireland

Ireland is a great destination for tourist from all over the World, but for many other people, it’s more than that. If you take a look at the country’s history and the immigration patterns, you may think that people change the country only on a one-way street: from Ireland to the U.S. and other parts of the World.

What about the other way? Are there many people moving from the U.S., and other countries, to Ireland?

Ireland isn’t just the destination for people seeking a better life but also for fell in love with the Irish landscapes, culture, and language. Other people have strong ties to their families and choose to follow them to Ireland.

There are many reasons why someone would move to Ireland from the U.S. or any other country, and we’ve written many blog posts on the subject, such as:

• Famine Times and Moving From Ireland to the U.S.
• Ever considered moving to Ireland?
• What’s It Like to Move to Ireland from the US?

You can listen to the above podcast episodes, or you can read the following interview where Ryk Foreman, a Bitesize Irish Gaelic community member talks about learning Irish, listening to Irish music and moving to Ireland to spend more time with his daughter.

Bitesize: Where abouts in the world do you live?

Ryk: Ta’ me’ i mo cho’nai’ i Fremont i Ohio i U.S. It’s a town of 17,000 about 50 mi. southeast of Toledo and 20 mi. south of Lake Erie.

Bitesize: What got you wanting to speak Irish Gaelic?

Ryk: I’ve been fond of Irish culture since childhood when my father played “THE DERRY AIR” on his violin. During the folk music era my favorite album was “Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers”.

Currently my daughter is married to an Irishman and lives in a western suburb of Galway. My wife and I visited them in September of 2016. I enjoyed the cobblestone pedestrian ways and shops, a traditional concert where I first heard the uilleann pipes played, the village of Cong, and Kylemore Abbey.

I would like to live in a village like Cong and get to know the people and the language. I want to be close to my daughter in my remaining years. I’m learning to play the low whistle also.

Bitesize: Do you have Irish ancestry? Tell us about it.

Ryk: I have no Irish ancestry that I know of. My family kept no written records. There might be some connection though, since Irish workers helped to build the Ohio canals in the early 19th century.

Bitesize: How do you use Bitesize Irish Gaelic?

Ryk: I’ve been spending about 2 hours a day at the library’s computer lab. I’m ready for level 4 lesson 18. I’ll probably finish level 4 by the end of the week.

I hope to be able to begin speaking Irish when I move to Ireland.

Bitesize: What advice would you have for a total beginner of Irish Gaelic?

Ryk: For beginners I think the lessons are well planned. Access to support is available, of course, but I haven’t felt it was necessary. Everything is so well presented! I’ve studied French, German, and Spanish and this is by far the best approach. The conversation sections are especially helpful!

Whatever your reason to learn Irish may be, take the first step and sign up for a Bitesize Irish Gaelic membership. If you want to start slow, that’s also fine – you can always sign up for our free trial!