I'm a bit confused about how it works when one responds to an email re: a reply to a post. I hit reply and thought it would go to the forum, but I don't see it anywhere there. So, am doing it again this way. Let me know what I'm doing wrong, if you have any idea...
Hi, Faber!
I think I read about your Dad/his tragic accident on one of the forums--maybe Daltaí?
You had arranged a birthday celebration for him in Ireland? Or was that someone else?
That was so sad!! My Dad's been gone for 36 years, and my Mom passed in Nov. 2007
(though that seems like yesterday still), so I know what you've been going through.
In the last 5 years of her life, my Mom had a "gentleman friend" who was from Ireland (Arranmore Island, off the coast of Donegal) who still spoke the Irish. He's the one who started teaching me some words & stuff, and who peaked my interest. I call him my "adopted Irish Dad" as I "adopted him" and we talk weekly/visit when I go see my family in Ilinois, etc. He loves it that I'm learning the Irish, as his kids have no interest.
I've seen the lessons on YouTube. Haven't watched them all, but they're good. Do you know you can print out the lessons to those? They're quite nice and really helpful. I'm trying to remember how to do that... I'll get back to you on that if you don't already have that info.
Are you familiar with "Giota Beag" and "Giota Beag Eile" on the BBC Northern Ireland site?
"Giota Beag").
Did you check out the "Anseo is Ansiúd" stories? (my corrected links work)-- I really like those. Still can't get the other one that I gave. That one must be defunct, as I've tried other places to get to that with no luck, and I know it wasn't just a typo.
www.Abair.ie is a site that has synthesized audio of whatever you put in. It's helpful, but sometimes the synthesized results are not clear. But still, check it out. I think it's Ulster, too.
"Irish on your Own" is a resource with a text and 5-6 tapes that I like. Sometimes you can find it on Amazon (used). Don't pay more than $40-50 for it, though. Just wait until you see it for around that price. Some folks really try to gauge. (But others on Amazon who sell used are great!).
There's one called "Colloquial Irish" that comes with a CD (make sure the one you're looking at comes with the CD. when it first came out you oould get the book alone, and probably still can, but you probably want the audio, too).
Another newer one is "Spoken World Irish" (by Living Language). It comes with several CDs and has some good stuff in it. (make sure it's SW Irish, cause I think they have one for Gaelic, too).
Buntús Cainte is an older series that some folks use/like. It comes with CDs. The best way to buy it is to get the set of 3 parts (cheaper than buying each separately).
There are 2 grammar books that I think are really good:
Basic Irish: A Grammar and Workbook and Intermediate Irish: A Grammar and Workbook
by Nancy Stenson. I really like the way she presents her information.
The best grammar reference (though Stenson's books are also good for reference) is
Irish Grammar Book (the full text, not the abridged one) by Nollaig Mac Congáil.
I also really like Teach Yourself Irish by diarmuid ó sé and joseph sheils. You can get it alone, or with CD.
I've been studing the Irish since 2006 with the Gaelic League of Austin. We have weekly classes on Sundays. I've come a long way since I started, but still have a very long way to go, as once a week isn't the same as when we took a language in high school and had class every day, or similarly in college... I do study a lot on my own, though. I'm addicted, in case you can't tell that already!!
Feel free to email me with any questions/thoughts. I'm going to stop for now, but will have more thoughts (and probably references/materials info) later, I'm sure.
It's great that you have that guy in Cypress that you're studying with. It really helps to have another human being to work/study with.
Slán anois.
Marilyn (fine irish chocolate)