Term has now finished for our Irish class at the Irish Centre in Kings Heath, but we’ll be back in September. If you have a little Irish already and would like to join us, do come along on Friday 18 September at 4pm.

If you are a total beginner, classes are available with Conradh na Gaeilge Birmingham.

To join a beginners’ class, contact Lars via email lars@gaeilge.uk or lars@kabel.me.uk

Recently in our live class we’ve been thinking about holidays. Firstly, here is a list of countries that will be useful to you when talking about holidays:

Éire – Ireland

Sasana – England

Albain – Scotland

An Bhreatain Bheag – Wales  (Little Britain)

An Fhrainc – France

An Ísiltír – The Netherlands (The Low Country)

An Spáinn – Spain

An Ghréig – Greece

An Pholainn – Poland

An Rúis – Russia

An Ucráin – Ukraine

An tSualainn – Sweden

Meiriceá – America     

Na Stáit Aontaithe – The United States 

Ceanada – Canada

An tSín – China

An tSeapáin – Japan

Notice that many of the names of countries in Irish use An, the definite article, (English the) but not all of them! Éire and Sasana, for example, don’t use the word An. When learning the names of countries be sure to learn them with the word An.

Questions you might ask:

1. Cá bhfuil tú ag dul? - Where are you going?

2. Cá hait? - Where?

3. Cá bhfuil tú ag dul ar saoire i mbliana? - Where are you going on holiday this year?

4. Cé atá ag dul leat? - Who is going with you?

5. Cén fhad atá tú ag dul ann? - How long are you going for?

6. An bhfuil tú/sibh ag dul…? - Are you/ye going…?

7. ar an eitleán - by plane.

8. ar an bhád - by boat.

9. sa charr - in the car.

Some possible answers:

(Numbers of questions and answers match)

Notice you use go for countries that don’t have the An, but go dtí before An:

• Tá mé ag dul go hÉirinn - I am going to Ireland.
• Tá mé ag dul go Ceanada - I am going to Canada.

• Tá me ag dul go dtí An Spainn - I am going to Spain.
• Tá me ag dul go dtí An Fhrainc - I am going to France.

• Tá mé ag dul liom féin - I’m going on my own.
• Mo chara, Seán - My friend, John.
• Mo chairde, Máire agus Peadar - My friends, Mary and Peter.

• Ar feadh seachtaine - For a week.
• Ar feadh coicíse - For a fortnight.
• Ar feadh míosa - For a month.
• Ar feadh cúpla lá - For a few days.

• Ar an eitleán - By plane
• Ar an bhád - By boat
• Sa Charr - In the car
  

Beir bua,

Terri

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