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Dialann na Seachtaine - 18/03/2025
An leath na hoibre é tús maith?
Tá an seanfhocal sin, Tús maith leath na hoibre, cloiste againn go léir le fada an lá. Rud a deir tuismitheoirí nó na ‘Irish Mammies i gcónaí chun a bpáistí a spreagadh I dtreo staidéir nó aon jab eile a bhí le déanamh. Tá sé á úsáid ag gach traenálaí foirne ag tús an séasúir, ag gach traenálaí pearsanta ag an gcéad coinne le cliant nó rang nua. Cinnte, tá fírinne ag baint leis ach ní ach leath den scéal é, is cuma cé chomh spreagtha nó díograiseach is atá an tús.
Tagann Seachtain na Gaeilge timpeall gach bliain agus is féile iontach é ina spreagtear muintir na tíre seo a gcuid Gaeilge a úsáid. Bíonn imeachtaí ar súil ar fud na tíre agus ar fud an domhain fiú. Is rud iontach é. Cloistear i bhfad níos mó Gaeilge sna meáin ón gcéad lá de Mhárta go dtí Lá Fhéile Pádraig. Muscalaíonn an féile daoine tús a chur lena dturas foghlama teanga i rith an ama sin.
Bíonn béim breise curtha ar an nGaeilge sna scoileanna agus in ionaid oibre go deimhin is tús iontach maith é. Ach nach mbíonn an tús iontach maith againn gach bliain? Más leath den oibre é tús maith, cad faoin leath eile?
Cén fáth go stopaimid? Caithfimid cuimhneamh nach Ach leath den oibre é an tús agus nach leor é seachtain, coiscís nó seacht lá déag fiú ár dteanga dúchais a cheiliúradh ach oiread. Cén fáth go stopaimid ar Lá Fhéile Pádraig? B’fhéidir gurb é an dara leath den phost ná ó Lá Fhéile Pádraig go an chéad lá de Mhárta ina dhiaidh sin?
B’fhéidir go bhfuil focalnua uainn:
Is cuma faoin tús muna gcríochnaítear an jab!!
We have all heard this proverb, Ag good start is half the work, this long time. Something parents or Irish mammies always say to motivate their children towards study or to do any other job. Every team trainer uses it at the start of the season or any personal trainer at the first appointment with a new client or class. Certainly there is truth in it but it’s only half the story, regardless of how motivated or dedicated you are at the start.
Seachtain na Gaeilge comes around every year and it is a wonderful festival. Irish people are encouraged to use their Irish. There are events all over the country and even the world. It’s a wonderful thing. Much mor Irish is heard in the media from the first of March until Saint Patrick’s Day. The festival encourages people to start their language learning journey during this time.
There is an additional emphasis placed on Irish in schools and workplaces it’s definitely a wonderfully good start. But do we have not this good start every year? If a good start is half the work, what about the other half?
Why do we stop? We must remember that the start is ONLY half of the work and that a week, fortnight or 17 days even is not nearly enough to celebrate our native language. Why stop on Saint Patrick’s day? Maybe the second half of the job is from Saint Patrick’s day until the following March? Maybe we need a newfocal:
The start doesn’t matter if the jobs’ not finished!
Tá nuacht agam!!
Bhí áthas agus bród araon orm an tseachtain seo nuair a bhí alt foilsithe faoi Ghaeilge le Grá ar rte.ie.
Míle buíochas as Cearbhall Ó Síocháin as spéis agus tacaíocht a thabhairt dár n-iarrachtaí Gaeilge a fhoghlaim is a chur chun cinn le grá.
Is féidir an t-alt iomlán a léamh anseo.
https://www.rte.ie/gaeilge/2025/0228/1499426-learn-how-to-love-irish/
Go dtí an chéad uair eile, a chairde,
Beirigí bua
I was both happy and proud this week when an article about Gaeilge le Grá was published in rte.ie.
Huge thanks to Cearbhall Ó Síocháin for his interest and support of our efforts to learn and promote Gaeilge with love.
You can read the whole article here.
https://www.rte.ie/gaeilge/2025/0228/1499426-learn-how-to-love-irish/
Go dtí an chéad uair eile, a chairde,
Beirigí bua
Dialann na Seachtaine - 03/03/2025
An giar ar fad, gan leid ar bith!!
Bhuel, a chairde, bhí mé as láthair le tamall. Bhain mé féin triail as rud nua. Ceapaim gur rud iontach é a bheith mar fhoghlaimeoir arís. Agus an tseachtain seo caite, sin díreach mar a bhí mé. Bhí mé san Sauze d’Olux san Iodáil, sna hApla fiú, ag iarraidh a bheith i mo sciálaí. Bhí culaith sciála, na scíonna, na buataisí agus an pas sciála agam. Bhí mé ullmhaithe, beagánín neirbhíseach, ach réidh.
Go dtí, sin é, go raibh orm tuirllingt den ardaitheoir sciála. Sea, tá an fhírinne sna focail
An giar ar fad gan leid ar bith – (All the gear, no idea)
Cabhraíodh liom chun cosa arís. Náireach!
Chonaic mé an scoil sciála os mo chomhair
Ba rud maith é go raibh mé in am mar thóg sé beagnach leathuair dom siúil ar mo scíonna an fiche méadar úd. B’ansin a bhuail mé le m’oide Matteo. Ba sciálaí iomaíochta é Matteo le deich mbliana agus bhí sé chun mise a mhúineadh ar feadh na hiarnóna. Bhí meon iontach dearfach ag Matteo agus Béarla briste álainn. Rinne mé gáire gach uair ar thug sé GROANIE orm féin. Anois, nílim cumasach, ach oiread, ag sciáil ach táim ag tnúth le mo chéad saoire scíala eile cheana féin. Mar a phléamar agus mar a d’aontaíomar, mé féin agus Matteo, trí Bhéarla agus Iodáilis bhriste ar an ardaitheoir sciála úd ar ár mbealach go dtí mo chéad fhána gorm;
Má bhí spraoi agat, bhí an bua agat!!
Go dtí an tseachtain seo chugainn, a chairde,
Beirigí bua!!
Well friends I was away for a while. I tried something new. I think it’s wonderful to be a learner again. An last week, that’s exactly what I was. I was in the Sauze d’Olux in Italy, in the Alps even, trying to be a skier. I had a ski outfit, skis, boots and the ski pass. I was prepared, a wee bit nervous, but ready. That was, until, I dismounted the ski-lift. Yip, there’s truth in the words:
An giar ar fad gan leid ar bith –( all the gear, no idea).
I was helped to my feet again. Náireach!
I saw my ski school in front of me. It was a good thing I was early as it took me about half an hour to walk on my ski’s those twenty meters. Then I met my instructor Matteo. Matteo was a competitive skier for ten years and he was going to be teaching me for the afternoon. Matteo had a wonderfully positive outlook and beautiful broken English. I smiled every time he called me GROANIE. I’m certainly not competent skiing but I’m looking forward to my next skiing holiday already. As we discussed ang agreed, myself and Matteo, through broken English and Italian on the ski-life on our way to my first blue slope;
Má bhí spraoi agat, bhí an bua agat! – If you’d fun, you won!
Go dtí an tseachtain seo chugainn, a chairde,
Beirigí bua!!
Dialann na Seachtaine - 17/02/2025
An bhfuil a fhios agat go bhfuil i bhfad níos mó Gaeilge againn ná mar a cheapaimid? Ní teanga iasacht í, an Ghaeilge.
Cruthaíodh an teanga sa tír seo, ar an talamh seo agus faoin aer seo. Oireann an Ghaeilge dár dteangacha, dár nguthanna, dár mbéil, dár gcroíthe fiú. Mar gheall ar sin, tá tuiscint domhínithe againn ar an teanga. Tagann sí go nádúrtha dúinn ach is dóigh mar gheall ar chúrsaí staire níl múinín againn ann a thuilleadh.
B’fhéidir nach bhfuil orainn ach í a mhuscailt. Bunaíodh Gaeilge le Grá chun Gaeilge labhartha a chur chun cinn, go mbeadh níos mó Gaeilge le cloisteáil ar fud na tíre seo.
Cinnte tá na cúrsaí ag Gaeilge le Grá ann chun Gaeilge a mhúineadh ach ní ach páirt amháin den mhisean iad. Táimid ag iarraidh misneach a thabhairt do dhaoine an Ghaeilge atá acu cheanna a ath-athint, a úsáid agus a úsáid le bród. Tuigimid gur páirt mhór den turas foghlama é botúin a dhéanamh. Níl ionainn ach daoine, tar éis an tsaoil.
Ní dhearnamar trácht riamh ar fhoirfeacht. Nílimid foirfe agus ní féidir le foghlaimeoirí a bheith foirfe. Cad is foirfeacht í ar aon nós? Agus cad atá chomh speisialta fuithi?
Molaim duit, ná bí ag fanacht ar an bhfoirfeacht, sa Ghaeilge nó in aon rud eile. Má fhanann tú air, beidh tú ag fanacht. Déan anois é. Bain triail as inniu. Tá sé agat, agus muna bhfuil sé agat anois, beidh sé agat ar ball!
Go dtí an tseachtain seo chugainn,
Beirigí bua, a chairde!!
Did you know that we have much more Irish than we think? It’s not a foreign language. The language was created in this country, on this ground and under this sky. Irish suits our tongues, our voices, our mouths and our hearts even.
Because of this we have an inexplicable understanding of our language. It comes naturally to us but most likely because of our history we no longer have the same confidence. Perhaps all we have to do is awaken it.
Gaeilge le Grá was founded to promote spoken Irish, so that more Irish would be heard throughout the country. Certainly Gaeilge le Grá has the courses to teach Irish but that is only one part of the mission. We are trying to encourage people to re-identify, use the Irish they already have, proudly.
We understand that a big part of the learning journey is making mistakes. We’re only human after all. We never mentioned perfection. We’re not perfect and learners can’t be perfect.
I advise you, don’t be waiting on perfection, in Irish or anything else.
If you wait on it, you’ll be waiting. Do it now. Try it today.
Go dtí an Seachtain seo chugainn…,
Beirigí bua, a chairde
Dialann na Seachtaine - 10/02/2025
An maith leat maidineacha?
Bím i gcónaí leisciúil ar maidin! Dúisím ag leathuair tar éis seacht gach maidin ó Luan go hAoine. Bhuel, buaileann an clog aláraim timpeall leathuair tar éis a seacht ach titim ar ais a choladh go minic. Is aoibhinn liom mo leaba agus ba bhreá liom fanacht ann le haghaidh an lae. Ach ní féidir liom!
Sa deireadh, éirím timpeall a hocht a chlog. Síos staighre liom ansin agus cuirim an citeal ar súil le haghaidh cupán tae. Bail ar Dhia ar a tae. Is aoibhinn liom tae, glacaim bainne ach ní ghlacaim siúcra. Táim féin milis go leor. Suas na staighre arís liom. Sa seomra folctha ním m’fhiacla agus glacaim cith. I mo sheomra leapa triomaím mo chuid gruaige, roghnaím mo chuid éadaī agus réitím féin le haghaidh an lae.
Sa chistin arís bíonn cupán tae eile agam agus má tá am agam, ithim píosa tósta ach de ghnáth ní féidir liom mar bhíonn deifir orm. Bailím mo mhála oibre, mo chóta, m’eochracha, m’fhón póca agus amach an doras liom. Tosaíonn mo chuid oibre ag a naoi a chlog.
Cad fut féin? Cén t-am a éiríonn tú féin ar maidin? An itheann tú bricfeasta? An maith leat tae nó caife? Cén t-am a thosaíonn do chuid oibre?
B’fhéidir go bhféadfaimis iarracht a dhéanamh níos mó Gaeilge a úsáid sna maidineacha as seo amach??
Go dtí an tseachtain seo chugainn, a chairde,
Beirigí bua.
I’m always lazy in the morning. I wake at half past seven every morning from Monday to Friday. Well, the alarm clock rings at half seven but I fall back asleep often. I love my bed and I would love to stay there for the day. But I can’t.
In the end I get up at around eight o clock. I go down stairs and put the kettle on for a cup of tea. God bless tea. I love tea, I take milk but not sugar. I’m sweet enough!
I go upstairs again. In the bathroom I was my teeth and shower. I my bedroom I dry my hair, choose my clothes and get ready for the day. In the kitchen I have another up of tea and if I have time, I eat a piece of toast but usually I can’t because I’m in a rush.
I gather my work-bag, my coat, my keys , my phone agus out the door with me. I start work at nine o clock.
What about you? What time do you get up in the morning? Do you eat breakfast? Do you like tea or coffee? What time do you start work?
Maybe we could try to use more Irish in the mornings from now on?
Go dtí an tseachtain seo chugainn, a chairde,
Beirigí bua.
Dialann na Seachtaine - 03/02/2025
Is aoibhinn liom aon deireadh seachtaine ach nuair is lá saoire bainc atá i gceist tá sé i bhfad níos fearr. Is ceann nua é dúinn, an lá saoire bainc i bhFeabhra in onóir de Naomh Bríd. Bhí an chéad cheann again sa bhliain 2023.
Gan dabht, bhí deireadh seachtaine fada de dhíth ar an gcuid is mó againn tar éis na haimsire in Eanáir. Ba dheireadh seachtaine iontach é ó thaobh an spóirt de freisin. Bhí an chéad babhta den 6 Nations ar siúl, Éire v Sasana, dé Sathairn. Ní raibh an cluiche féin ceann de na cluichí is fearr ach bhí sé iontach corraitheach. Bhí an bua againn sa deireadh agus sin an príomh rud.
Ansin, dé Domhnaigh bhí an onóir againn breathnú ar Rory McIlroy agus Shane Lowry críochnú sa chéad agus sa dara háit ag an Pebble Beach Pro-Am agus iad ag imirt le chéile fiú. Maith sibh uilig!!
Dé Luain ansin, d’imir mé féin babhta gailf ach an dá laghad a deirtear faoi is ea is fearr é!!
Go dtí an tseachtain seo chugainn…,
Beirigí bua, a chairde!!
I love any weekend but when it’s a bank holiday weekend, it’s much better. The bank holiday in February is a new one for us in honour of Saint Brigid. The first one was in 2023. Without a doubt a long weekend was needed by most of us after January’s weather. It was a wonderful sporting weekend for us also. The first round of the 6 Nations was on Saturday, Éire v England. The match itself wasn’t one of the best but it was amazingly exciting. We won in the end and that’s the main thing.
Then, on Sunday, we had the honour of watching Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry finish in first and second place at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and they were even playing together. Well done all!!
On Monday then, I played a round of golf myself but the less said about it, the better!!
Go dtí an tseachtain seo chugainn…,
Beirigí bua, a chairde!!
Dialann na Seachtaine - 27/01/2025
Tóg go bog é!!
Is iomaí iad na rúin a bhíonn ag daoine don athbhliain, a bheith níos aclaí, níos folláine, níos tanaí, níos sleachtmhaire srl. Chun na fírínne a rá, ní cheapaim féin gur rud ciallmhar é rún a chur i bhfeidhm ar an gcéad lá d’Eanáir ar aon nós. Tá sé ró-deacair ar fad mar tá séasúr na Nollag fós faoi lánseol, mar ba cheart. Freisin, tá seans maith ann nach n-éireoidh le daoine agus ansin tá seans ann go mbíonn díoma, náire, brón nó lagmisneach ar dhaoine agus ní slí mhaith í sin tús a chur le haon athbhliain. Ní hea, tá an Eanáir ann chun a bheith ag smaoineamh agus ag macnamh ar na rúin nó b’fhéidir triail a bhaint astu nó fáil réidh dóibh . Cinnte, bíodh plean agat ach ná bac leis an mbrú go dtí tús an Earraigh. Is san Earrach a bheimid réidh tús a chur le nósanna nua nuair a bheidh an t-aer, an talamh, an aimsir agus an spiorad réidh. Go dtí an deireadh seachtaine seo, ar a laghad, tóg go bog é!!
A chairde,
Go dtí an chéad bhlag eile, an tseachtain seo chugainn,
Beirigí bua
People have many resolutions for the new year, to be fitter, healthier, thinner, tidier etc. To tell the truth, I don’t think it’s wise to implement any resolution on the first of January anyway. It’s way too hard because the Christmas season is still in full swing, as it should be. Also, there’s a good chance the they mightn’t succeed which means they may feel disappointed, embarrassed, sad, disheartened and that’s no way to start any new year. No, January is for thinking about and contemplating resolutions, maybe trial some or get ready for them. Absolutely, have a plan but don’t bother with any pressure until the start of Spring. It’s in Spring that we will be ready to start new habits when the air, the ground, the weather and the spirit are ready.
Until this weekend, at least, take it easy!!
A chairde,
Go dtí an chéad bhlag eile, an tseachtain seo chugainn,
Beirigí bua
Dialann na Seachtaine - 20/01/2025
Inniu an tríú Luan d’Eanáir. Deirtear gurb é seo an lá is gruama den bhliain. Sin mar a dhúisigh mé ar maidin. Bhí gach stáisiún raidió ag caint faoin lá crua a bhí romhainn. ‘Tá tuirse orainn tar éis na Nollag. Níl pingin ag an gcuid is mó againn agus tá laethanta saoire agus an dea-aimsir i bhfad uainn.’ Ní raibh fonn orm éirigh, dul ag obair nó aon rud eile a dhéanamh. Ach ní raibh an dara rogha agam agus ba rud iontach é sin. Is é an rud is tábhachtaí ar domhain , dar liom féin, ná daoine eile agus táim beannaithe le mo chlann, mo chairde agus mo chuid oibre agus níor athraigh aon duine acu ó inné go dtí inniu ach oiread. Agus, chonaic mé mo chéad phlúiríní sneachta den bhliain inniu agus más féidir leis na bláthanna iontacha beaga seo teacht i dtír, is féidir liom!
Dóibh siúd atá faoi bhrón inniu, áfach, cuimhnighí oraibh, tá laethanta níos gile ag teacht!!
Go dtí an tseachtain seo chugainn…,
Beirigí bua, a chairde!!
Today is the third Monday of January. It is said that this is the most depressing day of the year. That’s how I woke up this morning. Every radio station was talking about the tough day that was ahead of us. ‘We are all tired after Christmas. Most of us have no money and holidays and good weather seem a long way off.’ I didn’t want to get up, go to work or do anything. But I had no choice and that was a great thing. The most important thing in the world, I think, is people and I’m blessed with my family, friends and work and not none of them changed from yesterday to today at all. And, I saw my first snowdrops of the year today and if those wonderful small flowers can survive, so can I!
To those, however, who are sad today, remember, brighter days are coming!!
Go dtí an tseachtain seo chugainn…,
Beirigí bua, a chairde!!
Dialann na Seachtaine - 13/01/2025
Bhí Tiobraid Árann clúdaithe le brat bán sneachta ar feadh na seachtaine. Bhí raibh Nollaig bhán againn ach cinnte bhí an aimsir ag tús na míosa cosúil le cárta Nollag. Bhí sé an-fhuar agus bhí na bóithre an-dáinsearach ar fad. Ní raibh an chuid is mó de dhaoine in ann tiomáint orthu, ach oiread. Ní raibh na scoileanna ar oscailt mar gheall ar an aimsir. I ndáiríre bhí sé cosúil la Covid arís mar ní raibh daoine ábalta taisteal. Níos measa fós, ní raibh leictreachas ag daoine ar feadh cúpla lá. Bhí orainn coinnle a lasadh ar fud an tí agus toisc nach raibh teilifís againn, d’imríomar cártaí agus cluichí cláir. Chun na fírinne a rá, bhain mé taitneamh as mar bhí sé go hálainn am a chaitheamh le mo chlann, sinn go léir le chéile in aon seomra amháin in aice leis an tine. Buíochas le Dia, bhí uisce againn. Ní raibh an t-ádh sin ag gach duine, áfach. Bhí cuairteoir álainn againn lá. Madra rua!! Chuir sé gotha air féin dom, fiú.
Go dtí an tseachtain seo chugainn…,
Beirigí bua, a chairde!!
Tipperary was covered in a white blanket of snow for the week. We didn’t have a white Christmas but certainly the weather at the start of the month was like a Christmas card. It was very cold and the roads were treacherous altogether. Most people weren’t able to drive on them at all. The schools weren’t open because of the weather. Really, it was like Covid again because people couldn’t travel. We had to light candles all over the house and because we didn’t have television, we played cards and board games. To tell the truth, I enjoyed it because it was lovely spending time with my family, us all together in one room beside the fire. Thank God, we had water. Not everyone was that lucky, however. We had a lovely visitor one day. A fox! He even posed for me.
Go dtí an tseachtain seo chugainn…,
Beirigí bua, a chairde!!
Dialann na Seachtaine - 06/01/2025
Inniu, an seú lá d’Eanáir agus Nollaig na mBan.
Tá an aimsir an-fhuar agus tá sneachta fós againn sa bhaile. Is trua nár tháinig an sneachta um Nollaig féin.
Bhí brón orm inniu mar is é inniu an lá deireanach den Nollaig agus tá gach duine ag dul ar ais ag obair agus ar scoil.
D’fhág mé slán le Daidí na Nollag agus leis na maisiúcháin go dtí Nollaig 2025.
Bhí Nollaig iontach agam mar bhí mo chlann go léir sa bhaile. Bhí mé an-sásta le mo bhronntanais freisin.
Táim ag tnúth go mór leis an Athbhliain.
Go dtí an tseachtain seo chugainn…,
Beirigí bua, a chairde!!
Today, the 6th of January is Women’s Christmas.
The weather is very cold and we still have snow at home. It’s a pity that the snow didn’t come at Christmas time.
I was sad today because today is the last day of Christmas and everyone is going back to work and school.
I said goodbye to Santa and to the decorations until Christmas 2025.
I had a wonderful Christmas because my whole family was at home. I was very happy with my presents also.
I am really looking forward to the New Year.
Until next week, be victorious friends!!
