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IRELAND’S NATIONAL LANGUAGE was in the national spotlight this week during a row between Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin.
During a heated exchange on housing in the Dáil on Wednesday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald:
“Tá an Teachta Dála ag insint bréaga arís.”
This translates to: “The TD is telling lies again”. It is not allowed under Dáil rules to state that another member is guilty of “being deceitful”. However, the remark was not picked up by Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy, who does not speak Irish.
But many Irish cora cainte (turns of phrases), seanfhocail (proverbs or ‘old words’) and just general phrásanna are known to people whether they are fluent in Irish or not. How many do you know? Ar aghaidh linn.
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8 out of 10 .
If interested Futurelearn.com, attached to DCU run online courses.
Irish 101: An Introduction to Irish Language and Culture, right up to Irish 205.
All free
https://www.futurelearn.com/
@Geraldine O’Riordan: Thanks a bunch for that. I’m using Duolingo at the moment. I would be good to have something more heavyweight.
@Geraldine O’Riordan: Free for €210
@James Kelly:
That’s if you want an upgrade. Otherwise, it’s completely free.
I’ve been doing courses with them now for many years, in numerous subjects, and have never paid out a cent.
@Geraldine O’Riordan: that’s ok, there is no need really.
2 of 10, a fair reflection of my education in the 70/80′s.
@Ciaran Enright: use it or lose it as they say. Same with all languages.
@James Reardon: True, yet it also depends on how it was taught. My french is better than my Irish yet I rarely use either.
@Injustice Cop: So true. My French way better than Irish (fair amount down to the learner too)
5/10
Wish it was more
@nollaig o cellaigh: Lean ar aghaidh aris. Repeat.
@nollaig o cellaigh: well you can wish in one hand, and $h!* in the other, and see which one fills up first. If you aren’t happy about your level of Irish, there’s no point just wishing it was better.
Cuig as deich….ta a lan athas agam
Only 5 correct, downloaded the app duolingo recently, better start using it after that shameful score.
I’ll take that 7
A naoi as a deich! Níl sé sín ró-olc d’foghlaimeoir sna Stáit Aontaithe.
Pleased with 8
7 out of 10. I have been taking Irish language classes in the evening with other immigrants. We British in Ireland are proud to assimilate. I get my Irish Citizenship soon.
What? Why?
@Keth 417: Cèn fàdh.
10/10
I can’t remember yesterday! but I can remember all of them.
All the answers were bate into me
Superficiality at its best.
In this case do judge the book by the cover.
Or however one might say this in Irish, as if it matters.
Load of baulucks
I scored 7/10 and I never learnt the language in school they said I was to old to start learning the language at 11 when I came to ireland, however the Irish class was taught while I was still in the classroom and I picked it up, I can just about manage it up to age 9
5/10, mostly through guessing and feeling out what would sound right. Don’t speak a lick of Irish. Now it’s time to learn what all these phrases are…
NOT HAPPY WITH 6 OUT OF 10 ,rushed it !!!!!!
A bit sneaky to have get some wrong just because of the grammatical accuracy. I missed out on a few just because the “b” was buaillte. or similar inaccuracies.Not a very fair quiz, as the spoken word would be the same as the incorrectly spelled word. But that the Journal quiz for you. Pointless!
9/10, that’s the highest i ever got on a journal quiz – proud of myself!
9/10
Ni bhfaca me uibhir a deich riamh
It’s the ” h” that puts me off also,words that sound same e g. Anim,Anam, .
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