Ten Secrets for Practising Irish Every Day

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As an active learner of the Irish language, it can be so hard to find ways to practise the language.

(Are you an absolute beginner? Start first with Irish for Beginners instead.)

Based on a set of principles for diving into the Irish language, we’ll first lay out ten secrets for practising Gaeilge Gach Lá (Irish every day). At Bitesize Irish, our mission is to help you achieve this.

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Dia dhuit, this [Gaeilge Gach Lá Checklist] will be so useful – great for motivation as well as staying organised and keeping track. Go raibh míle maith agat.

LISA
Author and learner, UK. Bitesize Irish member.

TAKE THE PLEDGE: REPLY BELOW

As mentioned in the ebook, come back here after reading it and take the pledge of Gaeilge Gach Lá. To do so, leave your reply below. This is your chance to draw a line in the sand and say “I’m doing this”.

Pledge how you might practise Gaeilge Gach Lá. It can be simple or not, and all depends on your life, context and energy resources. I’m sure you have your own variations and ideas, which you can share. Leave your comment below.

114 thoughts on “Ten Secrets for Practising Irish Every Day”

  1. Christy

    I just decided to learn Irish and am having such a good time with your youtube videos. I even made a tiktok wishing everyone a Happy Saint Patricks day from the video that came out Friday. Literally a few days in and a long ways to go but enjoying the journey.

    Reply
  3. Charlotte

    I pledge to use Gaeilge each day by speaking Irish out loud, so that I accustom myself to this beautiful language. I had taken classes at night several years ago, and have Irish dictionaries. I appreciate the opportunity to learn Gaeilge, in a much more spoken, and in depth way. Go raibh maith agat.

    Reply
  5. Críostóir

    I’ve been teaching myself Irish with books and YouTube. I’ve now decided to join Bitesize. I’m half Irish my Mums side are from Cork and I want to learn my language. I will try to speak/read it everyday one way or another, and I already watch and listen to RTÉ and radio na gaeltachta as its good to hear the language. I watch GAA (Corcaigh Abú) and I strive to hopefully make more sense from the Irish commentary.
    Go raibh maith agat!

    Reply
  6. Mike sullivan

    At 11 years old I moved to California from mining camps in Montana and found that even though I spoke only English none of the ki could understand me because of my brogue,
    I went to Ireland while in the army in 1966 and found that they were not allowed to teach or even speak Irish. I gave up.
    Now I me chance, still have the brogue and vow to now learn The Irish.
    Erin guh braugh

    Reply
  10. Sandra

    I pledge to count in irish the amounts of lenghts I am swimming in the linn snámha, do at least one exercise per day on duo lingo and take as much information on bitsize as I can. I will try to speak irish on Achill island during my next vacation. Go raibh maith agat for the chance you give us !

    Reply
  12. Amy

    I pledge to use a little bit of Irish each day when speaking to my kids and hubby, and also share what I learn with friends and colleagues. I will be running a small pop-up Gaeltacht at the upcoming St Patrick’s Day festival in my small town in Australia next month, to share what I learn here! 🙂

    Reply
    1. Moya

      I pledge to speak irish to my children everyday, to listen to RnaG and RnaLife in the car and Beo ar éigean podcast so I am thinking and dreaming in irish again. Thank you!! GRMMA.

      Reply
  13. Rosanna Finan

    I learned Irish every day at School I Dublin. I married a Scottish man in 1963. Sadly he passed away 17 years ago. I’ve been looking for something to keep me happy. I have been using Duolingo. Been getting up to 88%. Now I find it hard putting it in right order. The voice speaking is fast, making it difficult.
    ..Regards. Rosanna.

    Reply
    1. Clinton

      Yes I too am using Duolingo , I’m in the United States ( Kansas City , Missouri) and I have no prior course or schooling in Irish or Scottish Gaelic .. at first it was quite intimidating but I’m progressing along slowly but surely. Good luck!

      Reply
  14. Gerard McManus

    Dia duitch
    My family came to London early 50’s . They played fiddle and whistle in pubs. My childhood was robust, steeped in tales and music. I’m in Portobello Rd now where many opportunities exist to speak Irish daily, so I’ll be okay. Slan go foill, Gerard

    Reply
  15. Tatiyana

    I pledge to practice Gaeilge every day that I can, and hope to be able to use it conversationally and to have a similar daily use level as English.

    Reply
  17. BILLY PTL WEEKES

    I AM SO EXCITED TO THAT YOU ARE GIVING ME A CHANCE TO LEARN IRISH EVERY DAY AND WITH GOD’S HELP I WILL BE SUCCESSFUL… THANK YOU AGAIN.

    Reply
  22. Robert Woestman

    I pledge to spend at least 15 to 30 minutes a day practicing the Irish language. and even during the day when I’m not studying to continue to repeat words and phrases to myself. my great grandpa spoke Irish and every time I learn a word or a phrase I remember him.

    Reply
  23. Amir

    I take the pledge to spend a good deal of my time on Irish language. I do appreciate Bitesize for its perfect platform and encouragement.

    Reply
  25. Paul

    I recently watched live the September Q&A featuring the walk-through of Bitesize Irish 2022. I was SO impressed by the whole team’s passion, determination and commitment to supporting and encouraging learners of Gaeilge everywhere. I’ve felt not entirely fulfilled on my learning journey for a while and now I understand why – I’ve needed Bitesize Irish! I pledge wholeheartedly to Gaeilge Gach Lá😊I’ll be joining Explore in October as my next step. Thank you for all your infectious energy, enthusiasm and your evident love for Gaeilge and Irish Culture. Gaeilge go deo!

    Reply
  26. Donna McCormick

    I’ve been to I Ireland it was a dream come true.

    I’m part of the O’Brien clan, cork.

    Hall Clan Kerry.
    & Hurley clan I forget. It starts with an s & close to cork.

    Reply
  27. BILLY PTL WEEKES

    I HAD AN ACCIDENT I WAS IN A COMA FOR 5 MONTHS SO I FORGOT EVERYTHING I LEARNED IN SCHOOL AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK FLUENTLY IN IRISH SO PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME

    Reply
  29. Julia

    I am determined to tackle this and surprise my Irish friends with my progress!! I love the idea of labeling items in my home and I am determined to practice every day. Thank you for being there every step of the way!! Go raibh maith agat!

    Reply
  30. Katie Jo

    My pledge is to practice listening to all three Modern Irish dialects until I can understand TG4 and RnG programs without subtitles. I would also like to be able to read the 1933 Irish translation of Dracula and other pre-spelling reform classical Irish literature. Finally, I would like to be able to write and perform my own druid rituals in Old Irish. And while I doubt my accent will ever be mistaken as a native speaker’s, I would like to work on deanglicizing my pronunciation. There are certain sounds I still can’t make, but I am slowly improving.

    Reply
  32. Stephen Storen

    I will continue to sfudy Irish every day, and in fact accelerate my studies. Love the videos and the bitesize concept.

    Reply
  33. BILLY PTL WEEKES

    HI, THERE MY NAME IS BILLY PTL WEEKES, AND I HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON MY MOTORBIKE, WHICH LEFT ME IN A 5 MONTH COMA. ie BECAUSE OF IT I FORGOT EVERYTHING I LEARNED IN SCHOOL, SO I AM SELF THOUGHT TO A CERTAIN EXTENT. I AM IRISH AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK MY NATIVE TONGUE, AS MY WIFE IS FROM INDIA AND SHE CAN CONVERSE IN HER TONGUE. AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO DO IT IN MY LANGUAGE ALSO.. I WAS 16 WHEN I HAD MY ACCIDENT NOW I AM 57, AND I THINK IT IS ABOUT TIME I COULD SPEAK IRISH FLUENTLY.
    PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME.
    BILLY PTL

    Reply
  34. Jim Collins

    Ich bin angekommen! I will learn that most beautiful language, which hails from the gods, and which mortals call Gaeilge, every day until I am laid low into the Earth. My ancestors came to America from Ireland. I take this as a great honor which I owe to my ancestors. My goal is to read, write, and listen to Gaeilge every day. Thank you, Bitesize Irish, for all you do to help preserve such a divine language! Go raibh maith agat!

    Reply
  35. Ann Downs McArtor

    I believe the only official language of Ireland should be Irish and fluency in Irish should be requisite for schooling and employment. I’ve always hated speaking English It’s a constant reminder of my subjugation and the rape and pillage of my people.

    Reply
    1. Eoin at Bitesize

      Haigh a Ann. I definitely agree in the language being more fully supported in Ireland! And why not have all primary schools be gaelscoileanna by default? I don’t feel that forcing the language through employment would help. There are lots of positive approaches we can take (and a lot are already in place!).
      Eoin

      Reply
        1. Paul Donnelly

          Hi Eoin,
          Thank you for not giving up , thank you for believing that is possible to revive the Irish language.
          I spend 3 hours a day in my car going to work, can you recommend some materials that would help me to learn Irish.
          Cheers
          Paul Donnelly

          Reply
  41. Gerard

    I make my pledge to spend an hour every morning, practicing my reading, writing ,and talking irish.
    I am only starting the learning process, and I am determined to make progress.
    Thank you .Gerard

    Reply
  42. Ruth

    I’ve been studying Gaeilge now a couple months and am ready to be more consistent. With the downloaded ‘Learn Irish with Eoin’ the language is appearing friendlier and more attainable. I know it will take some time, and I’m up for the exciting challenge. The goal of holding a conversation in Irish will keep me inspired!
    Go Raibh Maith A Gaibh Bitesize Irish team!!

    Reply
  44. Eliza

    I have a special love for Gaelic languages and have been trying to learn Irish with some degree of fluency, but can never be consistent. Making the pledge now to practice Irish every day! 🙂

    Reply
  45. John Gregory

    Mother always dais my Irish genes were stronger, referring to my father’s side. DNA results proved her to have been spot on. Western Iveragh peninsula, County Kerry to be precise. And that is without the Lavery acncestors who were native Irish from county Down and Antrim. I started looking for a good resource for learning in anticipation of a trip to the Republic in 2022. Bitesize seems to be the best for my purposes. Daily lessons keep me from reading about politics.

    Reply
  47. Dana

    I’m making the pledge to Gaeilge Gach Lá.
    As a lot of people, I have a busy life, but once everyone has gone to bed, I’ll have ‘Me time’ to learn. 😊
    Thank you.

    Reply
  48. Gobnait

    Gobnait
    19 Meitheamh 2021 7:46 pm

    Go raibh mile maith agaibh, Bhain mé an sult as an chead seachtain seo. Gaeilge gach lá!! Tá an clár go deas.y suimiuil.

    Reply
  49. Mary B

    Having just completed a 3 year degree in Irish, I know I need to keep it fresh in my mind and your 10 tips are great especially the ones on writing labels to put around the house and also to think in Irish.
    I wish to make the learning and promotion of Irish as fun as possible.
    Ní neart go cur le chéile

    Reply
  50. Marjorie Westmoreland

    With my right hand in the air, I say “Gaeilge Gach La!”
    I have just begun to put my foot in the door via the Taster Courses, and, in due time, I hope to become a Member.
    I may not be sure just how, but I will find a way, no matter what happens, and I will be sure to gain a foothold on mastering the language, bite by bite each day. Thus commences my journey as a Gaeilgeoir.

    Again, I tell myself, “Gaeilge Gach La!” So help me God!

    Reply
  51. Lua Fahy

    Beidh me ag éisteacht le Gaeilge gach lá agus beidh mé ag léamh leabhar Éireannach awháin gach mí
    I have a long long way to go but a year ago I was desperate because I couldn’t even read the language with all the H and vowels all over the place but now it makes sense so there is hope!

    Reply
  52. Anne O Sullivan

    Go raibh maith agaibh BC @bitesize. Is maith liom an ebook agus is aoibhinn liom bheith ag féachaint ar duine amháin agus ag chur scéal faoi. Is deis iontach é. Feicim ar TG4 agus cloisim ar RnaG gach lá agus táim ag scríobh freisin. Lockdown has encouraged me, finally, to give 100% to learning mo Theanga Dhúcais and to not worry too much about making mistakes. Go raibh míle maith agaibh.

    Reply
  55. Christopher Holmes

    Irish Gaelic is a language that I have been interested in learning. I have and continue to learn Spanish. I have studied and learned some German, and Russian, though it has been unfortunately a number of years since my interest in Russian waned. Regardless, I welcome this chance to acquire and learn Irish. Thank you for any and all your help.

    Reply
    1. Deanne Coghlan

      Thanks for this special course. Ireland is my ancestral home, so i need to know the language and history. I may move there one day. Living in SA now. Dee

      Reply
  56. Patricia M.

    Thanks for the tips in “10 Secrets.” TV broadcasts and podcasts are so much more interesting than the language labs I attended when taking French & German classes 40+ years ago in college. I’ve been playing around with Irish for a few years; I think it’s time to really work at it.

    Reply
  57. Kandi Zielke

    I started out with the free email course. I never finished it because, after taking a look at some of the Taster lessons, I liked it so much that I signed up for an Explore membership. The “bitesize” lessons are wonderfully put together and the format makes it fun to learn. I may not finish a lesson each day but make sure that I spend time learning. After reading the Ten Secrets, I am anxious to get my post-it notes out. I pledge to follow through with learning Irish. I hope to come to Ireland one day to see where my ancestors were from and how wonderful it would be to carry on a little conversation with people I’d meet along the way. Thank you for this great language learning tool.

    Reply
  58. Matthew Caldwell

    Tiocfaidh ár lá. With all the unrest in the states, I think it’s important to learn about my people. What a beautiful language. I pledge to keep it alive and teach it to my children.

    Reply
  59. GEORGE MURPHY

    Worthy of the highest compliments. Its simplicity, format and presentation are of the highest quality for the beginner.

    Reply

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