I had been to the school in July 2012 to see what it was like. I knew that, when I was ready to commit to studying the language, the Summer School was a good place to start (plus it's only a few hundred meters from where I live in North Belfast). It was a lovely experience with good teachers and a tremendous programme of classes and entertainment events conducted in Gaeilge for learners at all levels, from beginners to veterans seeking to polish or deepen their command of the language. Having done Irish for 5 years at school over 40 years ago and having attended the School's bunrang (basic level class) for a week two years ago, I enrolled this year [2014] in meánrang íseal (the low-intermediate class). I prepared for the Summer School by revising my old school books, some new school books, and listening to Irish language radio & TV broadcasts and podcasts for a month. At the school I looked for recommendations about Irish language classes in Belfast for conversation and more regular learning. I've started now to attend the Turas classes in East Belfast which run all the year round. I resolved to begin my learning in ernest, to have fun in the language and get over my inhibitions as an adult learner.
I made some audio recordings with two teachers at the Summer School, Caoimhe Ní Chathail and Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhríde, who demonstrate the Ulster pronunciation of Gaeilge that speakers in the North of Ireland embrace and Donegal Irish in particular, which is spoken as a first language in the Donegal Gaeltacht (Donegal being a county in the province of Ulster situated in the Republic of Ireland). Caoimhe is from West Belfast and learned Irish as a second language at school, university and the Donegal Gaeltacht; Doimnic, a native Gaeilge speaker from Gweedore (Gaoth Dobhair) in the Donegal Gaeltacht, is a singer, musician and conductor of several Irish-language choirs who gave singing classes at the Summer School.
Caoimhe: Recording 1 (click to listen)
• Caoimhe talks about her interest in the language and its dialects (16min 25s).
Caoimhe: Recording 2 (click to listen)
• Caoimhe uses an Ulster pronunciation in reading the words listed below on this page (23min 03s). She recites the Our Father, the Hail Mary and sings at the end.
Photo of Caoimhe (from Twitter).Doimnic: Recording 1 (click to listen)
• Doimnic uses a native Ulster pronunciation in reading the words listed below on this page (10min 58s). He talks about where he comes from at the end of the recording, recites the Our Father and sings a verse. Recorded in the garden at the back of the Duncairn Centre for Culture and Arts where Doimnic's singing classes were held throughout the good weather of the 2014 Summer School, the recording has been left with its background noise unfiltered and with all the vocal input from the local seagulls.
Doimnic at the Summer School Céilí in Belfast Castle, 25 July 2014.
Thanks to Caoimhe and Doimnic who generously gave up break times to let a learner record them. Míle buíochás leo.
','images/caoimhe01.jpg','Caoimhe: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.<p><strong>The alphabet</strong>: abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz (including letters not native to Irish)</p>
<p><strong>Telephone number</strong>: 02890 746153 (not a real tel. no.)</p>
<p><strong>web address</strong>: http://www.mcp.com <strong>email</strong>: adrian@adrianmallon.com</p>
<p><strong>Punctuation marks, keyboard characters and common abbreviations</strong>: .,?!()-;+_=», srl., e.g., i.e.
<p><strong>Speech sounds (based on <em>Ulster Irish: A pronunciation Guide</em> by Ultach)</strong><br>
slán, éire, buí, srón, tóg, dún, bean, te, fios, obair, dubh<br>
bain, fear, seirbhís, deoch, mionteanga, suim, tae, a haon, suas<br />
ainm, dearg, gorm, Albain, borb, seanchaí, ainmhí, Donnchadh, balbh<br />
bád, bean, cailín, ceart, doras, dia, fás, fear, bog, geal, balla, gleann, máthair, mise, gan, bainne, Pádraig, píopa, carr, girseach, tuirseach, béal feirste, obair, seas, spéir, scéal, cat, te, druidte, inchreidte, goidte<br />
mo mhála, folamh, saibhir, ach, amárach, fiche, do dhoras, bodhar, geimhreadh, do dheontas, tinidh (tine), an fhuinneog, maighdean, do pheata. a sheal, shiúil mé, tráthnóna, i mBéal Feirste, i gCorcaigh, i nDún na nGall, i nGaillimh, i bPáras, i dTír Eoghain, ár n-aonad, ár n-eolas, ár n-iarriacht, ár n-oifig, ár n-uimhir, sa tsiopa, cnoc, gnó, tnúth<br />
inscne, firinscneach, abhaile, liom, leat, leis, léi, linn, libh, leo, díom, duit, di, caol, agus<br />
bhriseadh sé, bhriseadh Niamh, sásta, bád, Gaoth Dobhair, máthair, ocht, iascaireacht, bradán, Seán, cuid de, mo chuid lámh, dúirt tú, dhruid tú','images/caoimhe01.jpg','Caoimhe: Recording 2');){kind=link}
. He talks about where he comes from at the end of the recording, recites the <em>Our Father</em> and sings a verse. Recorded in the garden at the back of the Duncairn Centre for Culture and Arts where his singing classes were held throughout the good weather of the 2014 Summer School, the recording has been left with its background noise unfiltered and with all the vocal input from the local seagulls.<p><strong>The alphabet</strong>: abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz (including letters not native to Irish)</p>
<p><strong>Telephone number</strong>: 02890 746153 (not a real tel. no.)</p>
<p><strong>web address</strong>: http://www.mcp.com <strong>email</strong>: adrian@adrianmallon.com</p>
<p><strong>Punctuation marks, keyboard characters and common abbreviations</strong>: .,?!()-;+_=», srl., e.g., i.e.
<p><strong>Speech sounds (based on <em>Ulster Irish: A pronunciation Guide</em> by Ultach)</strong><br>
slán, éire, buí, srón, tóg, dún, bean, te, fios, obair, dubh<br>
bain, fear, seirbhís, deoch, mionteanga, suim, tae, a haon, suas<br />
ainm, dearg, gorm, Albain, borb, seanchaí, ainmhí, Donnchadh, balbh<br />
bád, bean, cailín, ceart, doras, dia, fás, fear, bog, geal, balla, gleann, máthair, mise, gan, bainne, Pádraig, píopa, carr, girseach, tuirseach, béal feirste, obair, seas, spéir, scéal, cat, te, druidte, inchreidte, goidte<br />
mo mhála, folamh, saibhir, ach, amárach, fiche, do dhoras, bodhar, geimhreadh, do dheontas, tinidh (tine), an fhuinneog, maighdean, do pheata. a sheal, shiúil mé, tráthnóna, i mBéal Feirste, i gCorcaigh, i nDún na nGall, i nGaillimh, i bPáras, i dTír Eoghain, ár n-aonad, ár n-eolas, ár n-iarriacht, ár n-oifig, ár n-uimhir, sa tsiopa, cnoc, gnó, tnúth<br />
inscne, firinscneach, abhaile, liom, leat, leis, léi, linn, libh, leo, díom, duit, di, caol, agus<br />
bhriseadh sé, bhriseadh Niamh, sásta, bád, Gaoth Dobhair, máthair, ocht, iascaireacht, bradán, Seán, cuid de, mo chuid lámh, dúirt tú, dhruid tú','images/doimnic01.jpg','Doimnic: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.','images/donal01.jpg','Dónall: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.<p><strong>The alphabet</strong>: abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz (including letters not native to Irish)</p>
<p><strong>Telephone number</strong>: 02890 746153 (not a real tel. no.)</p>
<p><strong>web address</strong>: http://www.mcp.com <strong>email</strong>: adrian@adrianmallon.com</p>
<p><strong>Punctuation marks, keyboard characters and common abbreviations</strong>: .,?!()-;+_=», srl., e.g., i.e.
<p><strong>Speech sounds (based on <em>Ulster Irish: A pronunciation Guide</em> by Ultach)</strong><br>
slán, éire, buí, srón, tóg, dún, bean, te, fios, obair, dubh<br>
bain, fear, seirbhís, deoch, mionteanga, suim, tae, a haon, suas<br />
ainm, dearg, gorm, Albain, borb, seanchaí, ainmhí, Donnchadh, balbh<br />
bád, bean, cailín, ceart, doras, dia, fás, fear, bog, geal, balla, gleann, máthair, mise, gan, bainne, Pádraig, píopa, carr, girseach, tuirseach, béal feirste, obair, seas, spéir, scéal, cat, te, druidte, inchreidte, goidte<br />
mo mhála, folamh, saibhir, ach, amárach, fiche, do dhoras, bodhar, geimhreadh, do dheontas, tinidh (tine), an fhuinneog, maighdean, do pheata. a sheal, shiúil mé, tráthnóna, i mBéal Feirste, i gCorcaigh, i nDún na nGall, i nGaillimh, i bPáras, i dTír Eoghain, ár n-aonad, ár n-eolas, ár n-iarriacht, ár n-oifig, ár n-uimhir, sa tsiopa, cnoc, gnó, tnúth<br />
inscne, firinscneach, abhaile, liom, leat, leis, léi, linn, libh, leo, díom, duit, di, caol, agus<br />
bhriseadh sé, bhriseadh Niamh, sásta, bád, Gaoth Dobhair, máthair, ocht, iascaireacht, bradán, Seán, cuid de, mo chuid lámh, dúirt tú, dhruid tú','images/donal01.jpg','Dónall: Recording 2');){kind=link}
.','images/bridin.jpg','Bridget: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.<p><strong>The alphabet</strong>: abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz (including letters not native to Irish)</p>
<p><strong>Telephone number</strong>: 02890 746153 (not a real tel. no.)</p>
<p><strong>web address</strong>: http://www.mcp.com <strong>email</strong>: adrian@adrianmallon.com</p>
<p><strong>Punctuation marks, keyboard characters and common abbreviations</strong>: .,?!()-;+_=», srl., e.g., i.e.
<p><strong>Speech sounds (based on <em>Ulster Irish: A pronunciation Guide</em> by Ultach)</strong><br>
slán, éire, buí, srón, tóg, dún, bean, te, fios, obair, dubh<br>
bain, fear, seirbhís, deoch, mionteanga, suim, tae, a haon, suas<br />
ainm, dearg, gorm, Albain, borb, seanchaí, ainmhí, Donnchadh, balbh<br />
bád, bean, cailín, ceart, doras, dia, fás, fear, bog, geal, balla, gleann, máthair, mise, gan, bainne, Pádraig, píopa, carr, girseach, tuirseach, béal feirste, obair, seas, spéir, scéal, cat, te, druidte, inchreidte, goidte<br />
mo mhála, folamh, saibhir, ach, amárach, fiche, do dhoras, bodhar, geimhreadh, do dheontas, tinidh (tine), an fhuinneog, maighdean, do pheata. a sheal, shiúil mé, tráthnóna, i mBéal Feirste, i gCorcaigh, i nDún na nGall, i nGaillimh, i bPáras, i dTír Eoghain, ár n-aonad, ár n-eolas, ár n-iarriacht, ár n-oifig, ár n-uimhir, sa tsiopa, cnoc, gnó, tnúth<br />
inscne, firinscneach, abhaile, liom, leat, leis, léi, linn, libh, leo, díom, duit, di, caol, agus<br />
bhriseadh sé, bhriseadh Niamh, sásta, bád, Gaoth Dobhair, máthair, ocht, iascaireacht, bradán, Seán, cuid de, mo chuid lámh, dúirt tú, dhruid tú','images/bridin.jpg','Bridget: Recording 2');){kind=link}
.','images/bridin.jpg','Bridget: Recording 3');){kind=link}
.','images/niall01.jpg','Niall: Recording 1');){kind=link}
 in the Skainos Centre, and about the enthusiasm for Irish in Protestant communities that she has experienced and helped to foster (33min 41s).','images/linda01.jpg','Linda: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.','images/matthew02.jpg','Maitiú: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.<p><strong>The alphabet</strong>: abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz (including letters not native to Irish)</p>
<p><strong>Telephone number</strong>: 02890 746153 (not a real tel. no.)</p>
<p><strong>web address</strong>: http://www.mcp.com <strong>email</strong>: adrian@adrianmallon.com</p>
<p><strong>Punctuation marks, keyboard characters and common abbreviations</strong>: .,?!()-;+_=», srl., e.g., i.e.
<p><strong>Speech sounds (based on <em>Ulster Irish: A pronunciation Guide</em> by Ultach)</strong><br>
slán, éire, buí, srón, tóg, dún, bean, te, fios, obair, dubh<br>
bain, fear, seirbhís, deoch, mionteanga, suim, tae, a haon, suas<br />
ainm, dearg, gorm, Albain, borb, seanchaí, ainmhí, Donnchadh, balbh<br />
bád, bean, cailín, ceart, doras, dia, fás, fear, bog, geal, balla, gleann, máthair, mise, gan, bainne, Pádraig, píopa, carr, girseach, tuirseach, béal feirste, obair, seas, spéir, scéal, cat, te, druidte, inchreidte, goidte<br />
mo mhála, folamh, saibhir, ach, amárach, fiche, do dhoras, bodhar, geimhreadh, do dheontas, tinidh (tine), an fhuinneog, maighdean, do pheata. a sheal, shiúil mé, tráthnóna, i mBéal Feirste, i gCorcaigh, i nDún na nGall, i nGaillimh, i bPáras, i dTír Eoghain, ár n-aonad, ár n-eolas, ár n-iarriacht, ár n-oifig, ár n-uimhir, sa tsiopa, cnoc, gnó, tnúth<br />
inscne, firinscneach, abhaile, liom, leat, leis, léi, linn, libh, leo, díom, duit, di, caol, agus<br />
bhriseadh sé, bhriseadh Niamh, sásta, bád, Gaoth Dobhair, máthair, ocht, iascaireacht, bradán, Seán, cuid de, mo chuid lámh, dúirt tú, dhruid tú','images/matthew02.jpg','Maitiú: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.','images/colm01.jpg','Colm: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.','images/colm01.jpg','Colm: Recording 2');){kind=link}
.<p><strong>The alphabet</strong>: abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz (including letters not native to Irish)</p>
<p><strong>Telephone number</strong>: 02890 746153 (not a real tel. no.)</p>
<p><strong>web address</strong>: http://www.mcp.com <strong>email</strong>: adrian@adrianmallon.com</p>
<p><strong>Punctuation marks, keyboard characters and common abbreviations</strong>: .,?!()-;+_=», srl., e.g., i.e.
<p><strong>Speech sounds (based on <em>Ulster Irish: A pronunciation Guide</em> by Ultach)</strong><br>
slán, éire, buí, srón, tóg, dún, bean, te, fios, obair, dubh<br>
bain, fear, seirbhís, deoch, mionteanga, suim, tae, a haon, suas<br />
ainm, dearg, gorm, Albain, borb, seanchaí, ainmhí, Donnchadh, balbh<br />
bád, bean, cailín, ceart, doras, dia, fás, fear, bog, geal, balla, gleann, máthair, mise, gan, bainne, Pádraig, píopa, carr, girseach, tuirseach, béal feirste, obair, seas, spéir, scéal, cat, te, druidte, inchreidte, goidte<br />
mo mhála, folamh, saibhir, ach, amárach, fiche, do dhoras, bodhar, geimhreadh, do dheontas, tinidh (tine), an fhuinneog, maighdean, do pheata. a sheal, shiúil mé, tráthnóna, i mBéal Feirste, i gCorcaigh, i nDún na nGall, i nGaillimh, i bPáras, i dTír Eoghain, ár n-aonad, ár n-eolas, ár n-iarriacht, ár n-oifig, ár n-uimhir, sa tsiopa, cnoc, gnó, tnúth<br />
inscne, firinscneach, abhaile, liom, leat, leis, léi, linn, libh, leo, díom, duit, di, caol, agus<br />
bhriseadh sé, bhriseadh Niamh, sásta, bád, Gaoth Dobhair, máthair, ocht, iascaireacht, bradán, Seán, cuid de, mo chuid lámh, dúirt tú, dhruid tú','images/colm01.jpg','Colm: Recording 3');){kind=link}
.','images/colm01.jpg','Colm: Recording 4');){kind=link}
.','images/fearghal01.jpg','Fearghal: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.','images/patmckay01.jpg','Pat: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.','images/paul01.jpg','Paul: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.','images/paul01.jpg','Paul: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.','images/seanmcm01.jpg','Seán: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.','images/seanmcm01.jpg','Seán: Recording 2');){kind=link}
.','images/gordonmccoy01.jpg','Gordon: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.','images/gordonmccoy02.jpg','Gordon: Recording 2');){kind=link}
.','images/dessy01.jpg','Dessy: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.','images/clara01.jpg','Clara: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.','images/clara01.jpg','Clara: Recording 2');){kind=link}
.','images/maria01.jpg','Maria: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.','images/blathain01.jpg','Blathain: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.','images/padraig01.jpg','Pádraig: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.','images/seamasog01.jpg','Séamas Óg: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.','images/seamasog01.jpg','Séamas Óg: Recording 2');){kind=link}
.','images/seamasog01.jpg','Séamas Óg: Recording 3');){kind=link}
.','images/labhras01.jpg','Labhrás: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.','images/aodan01.jpg','Aodán: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.','images/aodan01.jpg','Aodán: Recording 2');){kind=link}
.','images/padraigotiarnaigh01.jpg','Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.','images/padraigotiarnaigh01.jpg','Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh: Recording 2');){kind=link}
.','images/caoimhinoseanain01.jpg','Caoimhín Ó Seanáin: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.','images/fionntan01.jpg','Fionntán Mac Giolla Chiaráin: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.','images/fionntan01.jpg','Fionntán Mac Giolla Chiaráin: Recording 2');){kind=link}
.','images/liam01.jpg','Liam Dempsey: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.','images/darren01.jpg','Darren Ó Dochartaigh: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.','images/darren01.jpg','Darren Ó Dochartaigh: Recording 2');){kind=link}
.','images/franciecullen01.jpg','Francie Cullen: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.','images/mairead01.jpg','Máiréad Nic Dhaibhéid: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.','images/gearoid01.jpg','Gearóid Ó Domagáin: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.','images/seanan01.jpg','Seanán Mac Aoidh: Recording 1');){kind=link}
.','images/seanOMuireagain01.jpg','Séan Ó Muireagáin');){kind=link}
.','images/adrian01.jpg','Adrian: Seachtain na Seiteanna');){kind=link}
.','images/liamMacCionnaigh01.jpg','Liam Mac Cionnaigh');){kind=link}
.','images/edelNiChurraoin01.jpg','Edel Ní Churraoin');){kind=link}
.','images/connie02.jpg','Connie Mac Ceallabhuí');){kind=link}
.','images/conniesally01.jpg','Connie Mac Ceallabhuí agus Sallaí Mic Suibhne');){kind=link}
.','images/seamus20161102.jpg','Rang Shéamais Uí Dhonnghaile i gCumann Chluain Árd');){kind=link}
. Cuid a Dó.','images/seamus20161102.jpg','Rang Shéamais Uí Dhonnghaile i gCumann Chluain Árd');){kind=link}
.','images/seamus20161102.jpg','Rang Shéamais Uí Dhonnghaile i gCumann Chluain Árd');){kind=link}
. Cuid a Dó.','images/seamus20161102.jpg','Rang Shéamais Uí Dhonnghaile i gCumann Chluain Árd');){kind=link}
.','images/seamus20161102.jpg','Rang Shéamais Uí Dhonnghaile i gCumann Chluain Árd');){kind=link}
. Cuid a Dó.','images/seamus20161102.jpg','Rang Shéamais Uí Dhonnghaile i gCumann Chluain Árd');){kind=link}
.','images/seamus20161102.jpg','Rang Shéamais Uí Dhonnghaile i gCumann Chluain Árd');){kind=link}
. Cuid a Dó.','images/seamus20161102.jpg','Rang Shéamais Uí Dhonnghaile i gCumann Chluain Árd');){kind=link}
.','images/cumannOscailt.jpg','Athoscailt Oifigiúil Chumann Chluain Árd');){kind=link}
. Cuid a Dó.','images/cumannOscailt.jpg','Athoscailt Oifigiúil Chumann Chluain Árd');){kind=link}
.','images/ferdia20170131.jpg','Ferdia 27.10.2016');){kind=link}
.','images/ferdia20170131.jpg','Ferdia, 31.01.2017');){kind=link}
.','images/stiofanodireain01.jpg','Stiofán, 9.2.2017');){kind=link}
.','images/turas20170330.jpg','Panel 30.03.2017');){kind=link}
.','images/turas20170330.jpg','Panel 30.03.2017');){kind=link}
.','images/meabhUiGhradaigh_sml.jpg','Méabh Uí Ghradaigh');){kind=link}
.','images/gearoidDevane01.jpg','Gearóid Ó Dubháin');){kind=link}