Gaeilge agus Fáilte - Welcome to Irish - Lesson 1

Most people will have heard and understood at least a few Irish phrases. , e.g. ‘Cad é mar atá tú?’ (gu jay mur ta too) How are you?, and the answer’, ‘Tá mé go maith’ (ta may gu moy), I am well. You can change that answer very simply: Tá mé tinn (ta may chin), I am ill. ‘Tá mé ceart go leor’ (ta may kyart gu leor), I am alright.

The opposite of ‘tá’ is ‘níl’(nyeel): Níl mé go maith. Níl mé tinn.

You can use ‘Tá mé’ and ‘Níl mé’ to describe yourself:

Tá mé bocht (boht). I am poor.

Tá mé sásta. I am happy.

Níl mé ard. I am not tall.

Tá mé tanaí. ( tanee) I am thin.

Now test yourself. Translate: I am well. I am not poor. I am not happy. I am ill. I am not tall. [Tá mé go maith. Níl mé bocht. Níl mé sásta. Tá mé tinn. Níl mé ard.]

Read these Irish names: Seán, Séamus, Liam, Cormac, Caoimhín, Ciarán, Úna, Aoife, Caoimhe, Bríd, Siobhán, Treasa. If you can say most of them, you will have no problems with basic Irish pronunciation. It is not as difficult as you think!

You can use ‘tá’ and ‘níl’ to describe other people: Tá Seán tinn. Níl Úna sásta. Níl Liam go maith.

Make up a few sentences of your own describing other people.

Tús maith leath na hoibre!(toos moy lyah na hibre) - A good beginning is half the work. Cut out and keep this lesson and try to practice between now and next Tuesday. Tell your friends what you are doing during the lockdown and tell them to have a go as well!