frequently asked questions [ceisteanna]

• do the classes cost alot?

No, they are free of charge. All those that run the language group, do so voluntarily.

• what methods do you use to learn?

The classes are normally divid into two halves. The first half is usually spent sat at tables doing the usual stuff - reading, writing, learning grammar. The second half is where we diversify. It has been known for members to stand up and give a talk about a poem or a song or indeed anything at all that has inspired their love of irish. Other times we will sit around and listen to a story being read in irish.

• is there much homework?

No not much, and sure no-ones going to shout at you either if the dog has ate the odd page or two!

• if i miss a week will i have alot of catching up to do?

Probably not, at some point we hope to have the lessons available to download from this site.

• how big are the classes?

Not very big. There's probably not going to be more than 10 per class.

• i speak the ulster dialect, will i be ridiculed by the southerners?

There are a few munster characters hanging around but they are on the whole well behaved. The milg have adopted a policy of equality for all dialects and will teach/talk to you in whichever one you prefer.

• i learnt irish a long time ago, will i gain anything?

Yes. You'll be amazed at how with a bit of encouragement and a few drinks, it will all come flooding back.

• i used to teach irish, can i help?

Quicker than you know, you may end up with a class full of starry eyed pupils.

• i am a fluent irish speaker, can i still be a part?

Certainly. We have enough words between us to keep you talking to the cows come home.

• is irish difficult to learn?

Well yes & no. As with all languages it's never going to be easy to pick up straight away, though if you've learnt another language then you're probably at an advantage. However in the Milg we are very easy going so you won't be put under any unnecessary pressure to be fluent in six months.

• is it similar to any other languages?

Scots gaelic (as opposed to scots-lallans or ulster-scots) and manx all belong to the same family of languages. better speakers than myself can communicate with our celtic cousins. Welsh, breton & cornish although being celtic languages belong to a separate branch and as such seem fairly indecipherable to a half baked irish speaker like myself.

• is there a gaeltacht in manchester?

Not yet, but we're working on it! Saying that though, local historians tell us that once upon a time there was an irish quarter near victoria station where irish was the dominant language.

• do you know of any useful resources?

The internet is full of great resources from on-line magazines to dictionaries and computer software. There are a host of training resources including the bbc's cheeky 'colin and cumberland' site. Very handy when trying to bluff your way through emails is the 'irish dictionary online'. Why not also check out beo which is a on-line topical monthly magazine.

• is this the only place in the region to speak/learn irish?

No, in north manchester there is the irish world heritage centre who also organise classes. they have links to conradh na gaelige and run on wednesday evenings. Check out the links page for their website.

• do you do translations?

I can't see why not, but as mentioned elsewhere we are a voluntary group so asking us to translate the complete works of Goethe is a non-starter.

• i want a celtic tattoo, can you advise on what to get?

hmmm?

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