Minister McHugh invites people: ’Bígí liom ar m’aistear foghlama’
Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, Joe McHugh T.D., “Since my appointment as Minister, I have encouraged people to join me on my journey into the Irish language and learning to speak it once again. Many of us talk about how we wish we spoke Irish more, or better, and I have invited people to start now.
“Having spent a few weeks over the summer in Irish college in Gleann Cholm Cille, Co. Donegal, I have put together “tips on learning Irish” as part of a weekly blog, which have been available over the last six weeks and can be found on the dept website http://www.ahg.gov.ie/en/BlogofMinisterofStateforGaeltachtAffairs/. The intention is that anyone who is interested in our national language can follow me on this journey and I hope be encouraged to engage and immerse themselves in the language.
“Some key points I’ve learnt from starting this journey are –
· To remember that Irish is all around us – be it on road signs; on Radio Na Gaeltachta/ TG4; retired school teachers only too happy to engage in Irish (pay them a visit!); and in my own case, Mass in Irish
· What has been key for me in re-learning the language is to think in Irish as much as possible
· Remember that the fear of making mistakes should not hold you back. We all make mistakes but the trick is to learn and remember those mistakes so as not to repeat them. ”Is fearr Gaeilge bhriste ná Béarla cliste”
· I would encourage anyone to use the tips which are available on the website (LINK) and enjoy your journey. Tá mise libh.
“There is real interest across the country from people learning to speak Irish. I was contacted by an Australian man, who informed me that he was over the age of eighty and had just last year started learning Irish again and how much he was enjoying it. I’m also aware of a growing number of informal conversation circles which are taking place in towns and communities around Ireland and I would like to commend these groups on the open and friendly approach they have taken in encouraging those who may not be confident in their Irish to join in and engage with people from their areas. These people and groups are a key audience I had in mind when I began writing these tips and I hope they will be of some benefit to them.”
Bígí liom ar m’aistear foghlama
An tAireStáit do Ghnóthaí Gaeltachta, Joe McHugh TD: “Ó ceapadh mé mar Aire Stáit, tá mé ag spreagadh daoine chun teacht liom ar m’aistear leis an Ghaeilge a fhoghlaim arís. Luann muid go minic an ghrá atá againn don teanga, agus go mbeadh suim againn í a fhoghlaim, nó a athfhoghlaim, agus tá an cuireadh tugtha daoibh chun tosú anois.”
“I ndiaidh tréimhse a chaitheamh i rith an tsamhraidh i nGleann Cholm Cille, Co. Dhún na nGall, chuir mé roinnt pointí agus noda úsáideacha le chéile chun cabhrú le daoine, agus tá siad le fáil ar shuíomh idirlín na Roinne http://www.ahg.gov.ie/ie/BlaganAireStaitdoGhnothaiGaeltachta/ . Tá cead ag duine ar bith a bhfuil suim acu inár dteanga náisiúnta tabhairt faoin turas foghlama seo in éineacht liom, agus tá súil agam go mbeidh siad spreagtha chun dul i ngleic leis an teanga.
“Seo roinnt pointí a d’fhoghlaim mé ó thosaigh mé ar an turas foghlama seo:
•Labhraíonn muid go minic faoin Ghaeilge a fhoghlaim. Is é seo an t-am le tús a chur leis!
•Tá an Ghaeilge thart orainn in achan áit – ar na comharthaí bóthair; ar Raidió na Gaeltachta agus TG4; bíonn múinteoirí atá éirithe as a bpoist thar a bheith sásta í a labhairt; agus i mo chás féin, Aifreann as Gaeilge.
•Is é an rud is tábhachtaí domsa ná a bheith ag smaoineamh as Gaeilge
•Bíonn eagla orainn uilig botúin a dhéanamh – coinnigh i gcuimhne gur “fearr Gaeilge bhriste ná Béarla cliste”
•Tá a lán áiseanna cabhracha ar fáil ar an suíomh idirlín. Bainigí úsáid astu, agus bain sult as do thuras foghlama! Beidh mé libh an bealach uilig!
“Tá fíorshuim ag daoine ar fud na tíre san aistear seo, go háirithe daoine atá ag foghlaim na teanga iad féin. Fuair mé teachtaireacht ó fhear san Astráil, atá níos mó ná ceithre scór bliain d’aois agus a bhfuil an Ghaeilge a athfhoghlaim aige faoi láthair, ina ndúirt sé go bhfuil sé ag baint an-sult as. Tá a fhios agam fosta go bhfuil ciorcail chomhrá ar siúl i mbailte agus pobail éagsúla ar fud na tíre agus ba mhaith liom na grúpaí seo a mholadh go mór as an chur chuige oscailte agus cairdiúil atá acu i leith daoine a spreagadh chun an Ghaeilge a labhairt. Cuidíonn siad go mór leo siúd nach bhfuil mórán muiníne acu chun dul chun cainte le daoine eile as a gceantar féin. Is iad na daoine seo agus na grúpaí seo a bhí ar intinn agam nuair a thug mé faoin bhlag a scríobh, agus tá súil agam go mbeidh sé ina chuidiú acu.”
“Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine”.
