Latest news with #Irish-speaking
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Is your little one starting in a Gaelscoil? Here's how to help
Now that the summer has rolled around, many parents are already considering how September will fare for children starting school. If your child is due to start in a Gaelscoil and you're worried about how they will cope, here are some ways to support them before they get to the school gate. Gaelscoileanna in Ireland follow the 'tumoideachas' or immersion education system. Immersion education is a system which helps children to become fluent in Irish naturally, by giving them daily experience of an Irish-speaking environment. This means that all subjects, apart from English, are taught through the medium of Irish right up until 6th class. It also means that Irish is the language of communication in the school, both inside and outside the classroom and in the playground. In this way, children's fluency in the language is supported. Try not to get too caught up in how much Irish is needed, while some children starting in a Gaelscoil might have some Irish from home, plenty are starting afresh most take a second language in their stride. If you'd like to prepare yourself and them for more Gaeilge in their day before they start school, introducing daily activities as Gaeilge is a great place to start. Books There are plenty of brilliant books available in Irish. Many of the books for this age group rely heavily on pictures and therefore, you won't need to be fluent yourself to undertake a bit of scéalaíocht. Introducing a book or two in Irish into the bedtime rotation is an easy win. Futa Fata have a collection of picture-books available to buy and your local library probably does too! Music Listening to songs in Irish is a fun way to get to know how the language sounds. There are a ton of playlists on Spotify to get you started, have a listen to Picnic Teidí or Gugalaí Gug as a gateway to Gaeilge. Cartoons If your child watches cartoons, TG4 has its own tv channel dedicated to children called Cúla4 and it features some gorgeous shows bound to enchant them in any language. Enjoy the journey agus go n-éirí go geal leo!
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Irish language use up 600pc on TikTok as Dubai chocolate and matcha dominate users' algorithms
TikTok HQ opened their doors to reveal emerging creators and trending content across Ireland and beyond. From #gaeltok and Irish tourism content to green food and drink trends – even if it is a Coca-Cola recipe with pickle and jalapeno juice – the app with 186 million downloads at the end of last year never fails to surprise its audience. First up for favoured trends this year is #Gaeltok which Rebecca O'Keeffe, Head of Content Operations at TikTok, describes as a 'catch-all phrase for everything that's happening within Irish culture in the app, from Irish food, Irish history, to the ever-growing popularity of the Irish language.' A creator Ms O'Keeffe recommends us to watch out for is Máire Na Greine, @maire-na-greine, who creates lifestyle content through Irish. Ms O'Keeffe said: 'What I love about Máire is she's not trying to teach you Irish. Instead it's conversational and very approachable.' We've all heard CMAT's new song [Take a Sexy Picture of Me] which is a big trending sound on the platform at the moment The use of TikTok through Irish was up 600pc in the last 12 months on the app. Irish-speaking creatives like Máire are given much kudos by the Tiktok team for this growth. Ms O'Keeffe also delved into music on the app which relies on catchy sound bites to boost views. She said: 'There are incredible artists coming out of Ireland at the moment. We've all heard CMAT's new song [Take a Sexy Picture of Me] which is a big trending sound on the platform at the moment.' CMAT or Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson is an Irish singer, songwriter and musician, known for creating country, pop and folk music. Her latest song rallies against modern beauty standards with nearly 6,000 videos on the app made using the song. Some smaller musicians also flagged as ones to watch included Khakiid @khakid who has 51,000 followers on the app, Moio @sirmoio has 164,300 followers and @florenceroad who has 902,000 followers. All things green food and drinks are also trending, from Dubai chocolate to matcha lattes and even pickles, thanks to singer Dua Lipa encouraging people to drink Coke with pickle and jalapeno juice. ADVERTISEMENT David Burke, co-owner of Sugar Plum Sweetery, the sweet makers and chocolatiers based in Mullingar whose business was launched into the stratosphere following the Dubai chocolate trend taking Ireland by storm. He said: 'Our business wouldn't exist without TikTok and the Dubai chocolate trend. Our business is now 10 times the size of what it was, and we've 70 people working for us.' Sugar Plum is part of the TikTok shop which has now been brought to Ireland. The Matcha Bar, based in Powerscourt Townhouse Centre in Dublin city, is another Irish seller on the app. Elaine Fitzsimons, who opened the business 10 months ago, used the platform to take viewers through the experience of setting up a business. She said: 'You're competing against massive competitors and brands that have a lot of money to push behind marketing, and when you're starting up, you don't have that. 'So your story and your brand and your face is like, is your differentiator to cut through the noise. 'I also really enjoy authentic behind-the-scenes content myself. It's important not to take yourself too seriously.'
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Irish language use up 600pc on TikTok as Dubai chocolate and matcha dominate user's algorithm
TikTok HQ opened their doors to reveal emerging creators and trending content across Ireland and beyond. From #gaeltok and Irish tourism content to green food and drink trends - even if it is a Coca-Cola recipe with pickle and jalapeno juice - the app with 186 million downloads at the end of last year never fails to surprise its audience. First up for favoured trends this year is #Gaeltok which Rebecca O'Keefe Head of Content Operations at TikTok describes as a 'catch-all phrase for everything that's happening within Irish culture in the app, from Irish food, Irish history, to the ever-growing popularity of the Irish language'. Creator Rebecca recommends us to watch out for is Máire Na Greine, @maire-na-greine, who creates lifestyle content through Irish. Ms O'Keefe said: 'What I love about Máire is she's not trying to teach you Irish. Instead it's conversational and very approachable.' The use of TikTok through Irish was up 600pc in the last 12 months on the app. Irish-speaking creatives like Máire are given much kudos by the Tiktok team for this growth. Rebecca also delved into music on the app, which is an important area for the platform which relies on catchy sound bites to boost views. She said: 'There are incredible artists coming out of Ireland at the moment. We've all heard CMAT's new song ['Take a Sexy Picture of Me'] which is a big trending sounding platform at the moment.' CMAT or Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson is an Irish singer, songwriter and musician, known for creating country, pop and folk music. Her latest song rallies against modern beauty standards with nearly 6,000 videos on the app made using the song. Some smaller musicians also flagged as ones to watch included Khakiid @khakid who has 51,000 followers on the app, Moio @moio followers and @florenceroad who has 902,000 followers. ADVERTISEMENT All things green food and drinks are also trending at the moment from Dubai chocolate to matcha lattes and even pickles thanks to singer Dua Lipa encouraging people to drink Coke with pickle and jalapeno juice. David Burke co-owner of Sugar Plum, the sweet makers and chocolatiers based in Mullingar whose business was launched into the stratosphere following the Dubai chocolate trend taking the country by storm. He said: 'Our business wouldn't exist without TikTok and the Dubai chocolate trend. Our business is now 10 times the size of what it was, and we've 70 people working for us.' Sugar Plum is part of the TikTok shop which has now been brought to Ireland. The Matcha Bar, based in Powerscourt Townhouse Centre in Dublin city, is another Irish seller on the app. Elaine Fitzsimons, who opened her business 10 months ago, used the platform to launch her business, taking viewers through the experience of setting up a business. She said: 'You're competing against massive competitors and brands that have a lot of money to push behind marketing, and when you're starting up, you don't have that. So your story and your brand and your face is like, is your differentiator to cut through the noise.' 'I also really enjoy authentic behind-the-scenes content myself. It's important not to take yourself too seriously.'
Scottish Sun
24-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
I drove the Irish Route 66 with deserted golden beaches and pirate-like islands along the way
The stunning scenery, deep culture and friendly people are a given — perhaps that's just the luck of the Irish WAIL OF A TIME I drove the Irish Route 66 with deserted golden beaches and pirate-like islands along the way Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT'S Ireland's answer to Route 66 – only with jaw-dropping natural beauty instead of neon signs along its 1,500 miles of coastal roads. The Wild Atlantic Way hugs Ireland's western coast — and expect soaring cliffs, deserted golden beaches, brooding mountains, crystal-clear waters and mystical islands off the mainland. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 The stunning beaches with turquoise waters 5 An aerial view of the rugged Wild Atlantic Way Credit: Oliver Hegarty 5 The tranquil Dumhach beach at Inishbofin The remote Aran Islands offer something truly different. The stunning scenery, deep culture and friendly people are a given — perhaps that's just the luck of the Irish. But Europe's edge — the last islands to the west before you reach America — are shrouded in legend, folklore and myth. It's no surprise they were used as the backdrop for various films including Oscar-nominated The Banshees of Inisherin, starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. Famed for wild landscapes, distinctive knitwear and pretty cottages, the Irish-speaking Aran Islands offer the chance to disconnect from the modern world. The rugged terrain has a softness to it, as do the locals. Hidden caves The isle of Inis Mor was our first stop — 12.5 miles off the coast of Co Galway. It is the largest of the three in the archipelago (8.7 miles long and 2.4 miles wide) and has a population of roughly 800. The natural elements created a chiselled coastline complete with a seal colony and rare birds which complement the ancient ruins, local cafés and buzzing nightlife. There are plenty of historical sites to see. The underrated city break destination with scenic beaches, £30 return flights and more than 120 festivals a year We took a tour with Aran Hiking and Biking which included Dún Aonghasa, an ancient stone fort perched on the cliff edge above the rolling waves of the Atlantic, and well worth the trek. We stopped by Teach Nan Phaidí for a hearty, homely lunch and one of the best fish pies I've ever had. Afterwards, we nosed around the knitwear shop before heading back on the road for an enjoyable afternoon of more tales and legends. At Aran Islands Goats Cheese, award-winning farmer and cheese-maker Gabriel plied us with doses of lactic decadence. The goat's cheese with seaweed may sound hit or miss but it was a very firm favourite, and kids would enjoy being on this relaxed farm. The ancient Black Fort, Na Seacht dTeampaíll (The Seven Churches), and The Round Tower were also worth the trip, and then it was back to base at the Aran Islands Hotel. 5 Tour guide Tommy Burke will give you taste of island life 5 Colin Farrell and Barry Keoghan in The Banshees of Inisherin Credit: PA Every March, the hotel hosts The Friends of Ted Festival — an annual fan convention for the classic Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted. For dinner we headed to Joe Watty's Bar & Restaurant for seafood and battled with the freshest crab claws. Our meal was washed down with local tipples accompanied by a live soundtrack of traditional Irish music complete with fiddle. After a ferry back to the mainland we drove north on the winding roads carved into the backdrop of the Connemara National Park. From the jetty at Cleggen we caught a 40-minute ferry to Inishbofin. Arriving was like something out of a pirate film — complete with turquoise waters, white sandy beaches and dramatic cliffs where Cromwell had his barracks and hidden caves were bases for pirates. The island is a sanctuary for bird- life and is much greener and lusher than the starker Inis Mor. After checking in to Inishbofin House Hotel, with views of the harbour, it was on with a wetsuit to go kayaking around the coves. Lunch was a sensationally simple lobster and chips slathered with garlic butter at the Beach Bar overlooking the beautiful bay. Lobster and chips There's a wide variety of activities including walking, hiking, cycling, birdwatching and sea fishing. Or try canoeing, sailing, snorkelling, windsurfing and waterskiing. The rocky coastline hosts a large variety of sealife and you can even pick edible seaweeds. But we opted for a slower-paced afternoon in the meandering lanes to ascend to the peak of Croc Mor with our guide, islander Tommy Burke — our efforts rewarded by the views from atop. Tommy pointed out the unique white face of An Earagail Mountain (Mount Errigal), and seascapes from Cnoc Fola (Bloody Foreland) to distant Toraigh (Tory Island), to the tip of Horn Head. Our evening was spent enjoying yet more excellent fresh seafood at Saltbox, a quirky food truck. In season, it has to be the crab claws or lobster rolls. Tummies full, what better way to end the night than by heading off on a pub crawl of the island's four drinking holes. We wound up gatecrashing a local wedding at Murray's Bar at the Doonmore Hotel only to be made honorary guests. We drank well into the wee hours enjoying Irish folk music, song, dance and, of course, great craic.
The Irish Sun
24-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
I drove the Irish Route 66 with deserted golden beaches and pirate-like islands along the way
IT'S Ireland's answer to Route 66 – only with jaw-dropping natural beauty instead of neon signs along its 1,500 miles of coastal roads. The Wild Atlantic Way hugs Ireland's western coast — and expect soaring cliffs, deserted golden beaches, brooding mountains, crystal-clear waters and mystical islands off the mainland. Advertisement 5 The stunning beaches with turquoise waters 5 An aerial view of the rugged Wild Atlantic Way Credit: Oliver Hegarty 5 The tranquil Dumhach beach at Inishbofin The remote Aran Islands offer something truly different. The stunning scenery, deep culture and friendly people are a given — perhaps that's just the luck of the Irish. But Europe's edge — the last islands to the west before you reach America — are shrouded in legend, folklore and myth. It's no surprise they were used as the backdrop for various films including Oscar-nominated The Banshees of Inisherin, starring Colin Farrell and Advertisement Read More on Travel Famed for wild landscapes, distinctive knitwear and pretty cottages, the Irish-speaking Aran Islands offer the chance to disconnect from the modern world. The rugged terrain has a softness to it, as do the locals. Hidden caves The isle of Inis Mor was our first stop — 12.5 miles off the coast of Co Galway. It is Advertisement Most read in News Travel The natural elements created a chiselled coastline complete with a seal colony and rare birds which complement the ancient ruins, local cafés and buzzing nightlife. There are plenty of historical sites to see. The underrated city break destination with scenic beaches, £30 return flights and more than 120 festivals a year We took a tour with Aran Hiking and Biking which included Dún Aonghasa, an ancient stone fort perched on the cliff edge above the rolling waves of We stopped by Teach Nan Phaidí for a hearty, homely lunch and one of the best fish pies I've ever had. Advertisement Afterwards, we nosed around the knitwear shop before heading back on the road for an enjoyable afternoon of more tales and legends. At Aran Islands Goats Cheese, award-winning farmer and cheese-maker Gabriel plied us with doses of lactic decadence. The goat's cheese with seaweed may sound hit or miss but it was a very firm favourite, and kids would enjoy being on this relaxed farm. The ancient Black Fort, Na Seacht dTeampaíll (The Seven Churches), and The Round Tower were also worth the trip, and then it was back to base at the Aran Islands Hotel. Advertisement 5 Tour guide Tommy Burke will give you taste of island life 5 Colin Farrell and Barry Keoghan in The Banshees of Inisherin Credit: PA Every March, the hotel hosts The Friends of Ted Festival — an annual fan convention for the classic Channel 4 sitcom For dinner we headed to Joe Watty's Bar & Restaurant for seafood and battled with the freshest crab claws. Advertisement Our meal was washed down with local tipples accompanied by a live soundtrack of traditional Irish music complete with fiddle. After a ferry back to the mainland we drove north on the winding roads carved into the backdrop of the From the jetty at Cleggen we caught a 40-minute ferry to Inishbofin. Arriving was like something out of a pirate film — complete with turquoise waters, white sandy beaches and dramatic cliffs where Cromwell had his barracks and hidden caves were bases for pirates. Advertisement The island is a sanctuary for bird- life and is much greener and lusher than the starker After checking in to Inishbofin House Hotel, with views of the harbour, it was on with a wetsuit to go kayaking around the coves. Lunch was a sensationally simple lobster and chips slathered with garlic butter at the Beach Bar overlooking the beautiful bay. Lobster and chips There's a wide variety of activities including walking, hiking, cycling, birdwatching and sea fishing. Advertisement Or try canoeing, sailing, snorkelling, windsurfing and waterskiing. The rocky coastline hosts a large variety of sealife and you can even pick edible seaweeds. But we opted for a slower-paced afternoon in the meandering lanes to ascend to the peak of Croc Mor with our guide, islander Tommy Burke — our efforts rewarded by the views from atop. Tommy pointed out the unique white face of An Earagail Mountain (Mount Errigal), and seascapes from Cnoc Fola (Bloody Foreland) to distant Toraigh (Tory Island), to the tip of Horn Head. Advertisement Our evening was spent enjoying yet more excellent fresh seafood at Saltbox, a quirky food truck. In season, it has to be the crab claws or lobster rolls. Tummies full, what better way to end the night than by heading off on a pub crawl of the island's four drinking holes. We wound up gatecrashing a local wedding at Murray's Bar at the Doonmore Hotel only to be made honorary guests. Advertisement We drank well into the wee hours enjoying Irish folk music, song, dance and, of course, great craic. GO: IRELAND GETTING THERE: Fly to Aran Island Ferry to Inis Mor from £26 return. See See STAYING THERE: Rooms at the Aran Islands Hotel on Inis Mor from £154 per night. See Rooms at Inishbofin House Hotel on Inishbofin from £114 per night including breakfast. See MORE INFO: See
