Irish language gains popularity among US students

BBC News ^ | March 15, 2012 | unattributed

[SunkenCiv]

St Patrick's Day has always been a time when Americans have acknowledged their Irish roots, whether real or desired, by celebrating Irish culture in a variety of ways.

Some say there is no better window to understanding Irish culture than language.

While the Irish language has struggled to survive alongside the more dominant English language, one man from Ireland is helping to lead a modest revival in the US.

Through his efforts, a growing number of Irish Americans are forging stronger ties to their Hibernian ancestors.

The BBC heard from Ronan Connolly who teaches Irish language classes at Catholic University in Washington DC -- sharing his passion for Gaelic and his own Irish heritage with students of all ages.

[SunkenCiv]

(it's mostly a link to a streaming vid when you visit the original)

[freedumb2003]

It is a beautiful language and the language of my ancestors.

When I hear it spoken or sung I have a deep emotional reaction.

[SunkenCiv]

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Happy St Patrick's Day! To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.

[GiovannaNicoletta]

How cool!!

Here is a song from the 11th century, sung in the original 11th century Irish:

I Am Eve

[Jack Hydrazine]

But will it help me learn to talk like a pirate?

[proxy_user]

These Celtic languages are really tough. It’s a bunch of difficult sounds and complicated grammar.

Only Irish, Manx, and Scots Gaelic are close to each other, Welsh, Breton, and Cornish are off on a different tree.

[Jaidyn]

My husband, Pat, passed away Feb. 11. St. Patrick's Day is his favorite day of the year, and he always went all out to celebrate. For his birthday one year, I had a friend do a caricature of him. The picture is a perfect caricature.

[Little Bill]

The language that was spoken by my Irish ancestors was Low Land Scots, driven from Ireland by the Rack Rents in 1703.

[skinkinthegrass]

is international-talk-like-a-pirate-day, still on Sept. 19?
iirc, it wasn't posted last year...or i must've missed it. :-\

[JohnG45]

I am sorry for your loss.

I am sure it was because of the “luck of the Irish” he found you.

[skinkinthegrass]

*cue-up/*
theme to Last of the Mohicans...otherwise known as "the Gael"
*/cue-up*
beautiful rendition on u-tube keywords "last of the Mohicans;felixps0000"

[Jack Hydrazine]

I think so!
http://www.talklikeapirate.com/

[tumblindice]

“Erin go braugh” (Gaelic sex talk/foreplay: “Brace yourself lass.”)

[skinkinthegrass]

arghhh... so it is!! *LOL* :-D
that fist-puppet (a-la-cartman...classic :-)

[GOP Poet]

bookmark

[Jaidyn]

I am sure it was because of the “luck of the Irish” he found you.

Thank you! I'd like to think it is the luck of the Irish! We sure had a lot of fun!

[Squantos]

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Shona le mo chairde ar saor in aisce poblacht !

¡ ɔıןqndǝɹ ǝǝɹɟ uo spuǝıɹɟ ʎɯ oʇ ʎɐp sʞɔıɹʇɐd ʇs ʎddɐɥ

[pineybill]

The University where I work introduced Irish as a language option four years ago. The class typically fills to a capacity of 20, by the time the last day comes to ‘drop without a grade” half the class is out. Come second semester, only 5-6 typically continue. Looks difficult but one of these years I am going to give it a shot.

[Mmogamer]

wouldn’t it be more proper to call it Gaelic? There is no “Irish” language. Irish Gaels maybe?

[Revolting cat!]

IBIJ (In Before Irish Jokes!)