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Irish 102: An Introduction to Irish Language and Culture

Find out how to speak, write and understand basic words, phrases and dialogues in Irish.

14,758 enrolled on this course

  • Duration

    4 weeks
  • Weekly study

    4 hours

Develop your knowledge of the basics of the Irish language

Ireland is home to one of the oldest living languages in Europe.

This course follows the course Irish 101: An Introduction to Irish Language and Culture.

On this course, you’ll improve your understanding of basic spoken words, phrases and dialogues in Irish.

You’ll learn how to discuss the weather, tell the time and expand your language awareness.

You’ll explore the vibrant culture of Ireland, by learning about Irish place-names, the Irish calendar, traditional festivals and the fusion of art, language and culture.

Bígí linn – join us!

What topics will you cover?

  • Introduction to the Irish language
  • An Cló Gaelach and Irish script
  • Greetings and blessings
  • Arranging to meet a friend
  • The weather and its many forms
  • The calendar, seasons, months of the year and days of the week
  • Traditional festivals and their Celtic roots
  • Numbers and telling the time
  • What you wear, clothes and colours
  • Food and drink
  • Art, culture and language

When would you like to start?

  • Date to be announced

Add to Wishlist to be emailed when new dates are announced

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Engage with the Irish language through culture
  • Explore Irish script and the use of An Cló Gaelach in manuscripts and printed literature
  • Reflect on greetings and blessings in the Irish language
  • Describe the weather in its many forms
  • Explore the fusion of culture and language in the calendar, days of the week and seasons
  • Discuss what clothes you wear, food you eat and what you drink
  • Compare clothes and colours
  • Debate art as a product of language and culture
  • Describe the time and arrange to meet a friend

Who is the course for?

This course is aimed at anyone interested in Irish language and culture.

Who will you learn with?

Ollamh le Gaeilge in DCU. Eochair do chultúr agus d'oidhreacht na tíre í an Ghaeilge, dar liom.
Professor of Irish in DCU. I believe that Irish is a key to the culture and heritage of Ireland.

I am an educator, senior project manager & lecture through Irish in Dublin City University. I enjoy helping learners, learn online, speak Irish & discover the rich culture woven through the language.

Associate Professor and Senior Researcher in Dublin City University. Head of the Ideas Lab in the National Institute for Digital Learning@DCU - @1MNGM

Who developed the course?

Dublin City University

Dublin City University is a young, dynamic and ambitious Irish university with a distinctive mission to transform lives and societies through education, research and innovation.

Endorsers and supporters

funded by

Irish National Lottery logo

funded by

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funded by

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Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

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