Irish Language Learning Books

by Manchán Magan

€18.99

Meet the néaladóirí (cloud-watchers) and réadóirí (star-gazers) from our past who, without the luxury of Met Éireann at their disposal, observed birds, trees, animals, as well as markers on land and sea for signs of weather change. The sheer richness and variety of terms they amassed reveal the closeness with which they observed the world around them. Swallows flying low foretold rain. The heron's behaviour offered many hints: Aimsir chrua thirim nuair a bhíonn an corr éisc suas in aghaidh srutha chun na sléibhte (when the heron flies upstream to the mountains the weather will be dry but rough). Fearthainn nuair a thagann sí an abhainn anuas (when she goes downstream, it will rain). Evoking countless sodden, shivery experiences on this Atlantic-swept Island of ours, this beautifully illustrated gift book uses Irish words to grasp an almost-lost world through the wisdom stored in the Irish language.

by Hector Ó hEochagáin

€18.99

Many of us wish we had paid more attention in Irish class and could still speak the cúpla focal. When we lose our language, we lose a part of who we are. Here, Hector makes adding an Irish word a day to your vocabulary a habit that's as easy as brushing your teeth. Month-by-month, through stories, words and phrases, Hector takes us through the year with words from the practical to the magical, for every season and new moon. When you start the day, you'll be able to name the gallúnach (soap) and ubh brúite (boiled egg). When you head to the chipper after a few pints you'll be able to order an ispín buailte (battered sausage). And when you look out your window and see the robin is building his nest again in spring, you'll be able to greet the spiteog through Irish. Reclaim your heritage (oidhreacht) by learning an Irish word a day and with Hector.

by Hector Ó hEochagáin

€19.99

"Irish Words You Should Know: And How to Use Them Every Day" When you speak in Irish, every word becomes a tiny poem. Take loinnir —a word describing sunlight sparkling on waves, or the merriness after an early pint of stout. Here, Hector weaves stories around Irish words that reveal a unique perspective on Ireland’s landscape, weather, relationships, feelings, and even the body. In Irish Words You Should Know , you’ll discover that rain feels wetter and the sun shines brighter when described in Irish. The Irish language lives within the soil, flows through the leaves, and hums in the wind and rain, reminding us of an ancient heritage. Irish existed on this island long before English, connecting us to our ancestors and helping define who we are today. Whether you’re a fluent gaeilgeoir or, like Hector, you struggled in school and can’t write a word of Irish, Irish Words You Should Know: And How to Use Them Every Day will inspire you to speak the cúpla focail confidently. It’s a book that celebrates the fun and magic of the Irish language, an inheritance for all who love Ireland.

by Molly Nic Céile

€15.99

Your Guide to Loving and Living the Irish Language A JOURNEY INTO THE WISDOM AND WIT OF AN GHAEILGE How do you feel about embracing our native tongue? A bit awkward? At odds after a tricky relationship at school? Maybe you've given up or don’t know where to start? Well, is fada an bóthar nach mbíonn casadh ann —long is the road that has no turn—and in this book, that road is about to turn. Through seanfhocail agus scéalta —proverbs and stories—Molly Nic Céile, creator of the social media sensation for Irish-language learners and lovers Gaeilge i Mo Chroí , invites us to connect with Irish in our hearts, turning náire into gáire —embarrassment into laughter—on a journey of renewed pride in our national tongue. Gaeilge i Mo Chroí - Irish In My Heart: Your Guide to Loving and Living is filled with plenty of craic along the way—including the hilarious “if Irish were English” approach to better understanding sentence structure. This book provides guidance on bringing Irish into our everyday lives, supported by useful word and phrase glossaries throughout. Gaeilge i Mo Chroí - Irish In My Heart by Molly Nic Céile encourages readers to connect with an Ghaeilge they didn’t know they knew, to embrace na botúin —the mistakes—and to discover the richness our beautiful language— ár teanga álainn —can offer.

by Manchán Magan

€17.99

The Irish language has thirty-two words for field. Among them are: Geamhar - a field of corn-grass Tuar - a field for cattle at night Réidhleán - a field for games or dancing Cathairìn - a field with a fairy-dwelling in it The richness of a language closely tied to the natural landscape offered our ancestors a more magical way of seeing the world. Before we cast old words aside, let us consider the sublime beauty and profound oddness of the ancient tongue that has been spoken on this island for almost 3,000 years. In Thirty-Two Words for Field, Manchán Magan meditates on these words - and the nuances of a way of life that is disappearing with them.   'A rip-roaring, archaeological and anthropological exploration of the lyricism, mystery and oddities of the Irish language, and the layers of ancient knowledge encoded within.' The Irish Times 'The book I never knew I needed' Caitrìona Balfe 'If you're in to Irish Mythology, Manchán has got some incredibly interesting theories about Irish mythology based on his understanding of the Irish language, and he's got some theories about the roots of the Irish language that are going to blow your head off.' Blindboy Boatclub 'One only needs to wade a few pages into this rich and absorbing work to see that perhaps we could do with a lot more characters like him dotted about this world.' Hilary A. White, Irish Independent 'An accessible yet erudite stroll back through the Irish landscape' Paddy Kehoe, RTÉ 'Manchán's book, for which you don't need a word of Irish, is a fascinating insight into our changing culture' John Masterson, Irish Independent 'The amount of fascinating detail in there is enormous' Dave Fanning 'This book is perfect for anyone who is looking to brush up on their Irish history, or delve a little deeper into their cultural heritage.' Áine O'Boyle, RTÉ

by Flann O'Riain

€11.60

A fun way to start learning Irish by means of cartoons comprising lessons in basic grammar and vocabulary, short sayings and simple sentences. First published in 1993.

by Garry Bannister

€15.95

Bannister is back! The author of the bestselling Proverbs in Irish and What's That as Gaeilge? returns with another indispensable guide to the Irish language. This comprehensive compendium includes a thematic index and lists of synonyms and antonyms. 'Who would have thought there was more than one way of saying 'going commando' in Irish? And what do expressions like fear gan chathaoir, ag éirì a trì or cnaipe a scaoileadh mean? This dictionary is packed with Irish phrases as they are used today, as well as providing fascinating insights into how the language has changed over time. Contemporary Irish has words like téacsáil, hipearnasc, svaidhpeáil ar deas/ar clé, trasinscneach, ìocaìocht gan tadhall, along with many others that express the reality of lived experience for a new generation of speakers.' Láns Ó Baoill   'Tairgeann an trìú foilsiúchán seo i sraith leabhar ar an Ghaeilge, What's that as Béarla?, léargas léannta lómhar ar an teanga mar a labhraìonn aos óg na tìre inniu ì. Nochtar go neambhalbh ar leathanaigh an leabhair seo saibhreas na teanga ó shaothair na bhfilì nua-aoiseacha agus ó phrós scrìbhneoirì iomráiteacha na Nua-Ghaeilge. Is taisce eolais an leabhar seo ar conas a labhraìtear an teanga sna Gaeltachtaì éagsúla agus sa Ghalltacht freisin. Leabhar tagartha fiúntach eile de chuid foilseachán Bannister gur cóir spás a dhéanamh dó ar do leabhragán baile.' Cairil Mhic Éalsain

by Flann O'Riain

€11.60

A fun way to start learning Irish by means of cartoons comprising lessons in basic grammar and vocabulary, short sayings and simple sentences. First published in 1993.

by Darach Ó Seaghdha

€13.05

From the author of the bestselling Motherfoclóir, Non-fiction Irish Book of the Year. A TLS BOOK OF THE YEAR. What do we talk about when we talk about Irish? When we talk about saving or supporting a language do we mean the musical combination of syllables, or something more profound? How do new words enter a language, and what is the relationship between that strange dialect called Hiberno-English and its parent language? Craic Baby picks up exactly where Motherfoclóir left off and explores the very new and very old parts of the Irish language from a personal perspective. While Motherfoclóir was steeped in memory and a father-son relationship, Craic Baby hinges on the beginnings of a father-daughter relationship, and how watching a child learn to communicate changes how you think about language. Craic Baby will share more Irish words and issues connected to the language, in the same style as Motherfoclóir, but treated with greater confidence and more depth.

€6.99

The home of trusted Irish dictionaries for everyday language use.28,000 headwords, 46,000 translations.A handy Irish to English and English to Irish dictionary. Offering learners at home, at school and in the office extensive and up-to-date coverage of Irish and English in a compact, portable format.A grammar supplement helps you to develop your knowledge of Irish and your confidence in the language. Useful verb tables show all verb forms for the most common regular and irregular Irish verbs.All the latest words reflecting changes in modern lifestyle are included in this small Irish dictionary, making it the perfect choice for travellers, students and business people. The Phrasefinder supplement has all the most useful phrases at your fingertips for ease of access.For more on Irish language usage, the Collins Irish Pocket Dictionary (9780008320003) is available for purchase.

by Susie Beattie

€11.99

The home of trusted Irish dictionaries for everyday language use.An up-to-date, easy-reference Irish to English and English to Irish dictionary with a practical, fun supplement, ideal for learners of Irish.Designed for learners of Irish, whether you are learning at school or in an evening class. The entries cover everyday Irish (including all essential set expressions) so that you can be sure of having all the vocabulary you need.There is additional help in the form of a full guide to using the dictionary, essential grammar pages, a section on expressing yourself in Irish, and free extra study material online. With extensive language notes, this dictionary gives a solid foundation for Irish language learning.Easy to use: thousands of examples of real Irish show you exactly how translations are used. With no jargon or unclear symbols, this is the easiest Irish dictionary to use.Easy to read: clear layout takes you quickly to the words you want, with all Irish words, phrases and translations in blue, and all English text in black.Easy to remember: a fun guide to communicating and a handy grammar section help you use written and spoken Irish correctly.

by Art J. Hughes

€10.43

The home of trusted Irish dictionaries for everyday language use.This book offers Irish learners a clear and easy-to-understand guide to Irish verbs to help in their exam revision.Designed for all those learning Irish at school, work or home. The main section of the book consists of 115 fully conjugated verbs, both regular and irregular.The introduction gives a clear explanation of the main tenses and moods in which the verbs are conjugated. It also points out that the forms given in the verb tables conform to the Official Standard of Irish, with additional notes on the principal dialect variants. Finally, an alphabetical index lists many widely used Irish verbs, including the key verbs which appear in full in the verb tables.Shows all the major tenses and moods of the most important Irish verbs in full.A list of the 115 key verbs is given in the introduction.Clear layout ensures that you find the information you need quickly and easily.

by Éamonn Ó Dónaill

€15.07

Comprehensive and clear explanations of key grammar patterns and structures are reinforced and contextualized through authentic materials. You will not only learn how to construct grammar correctly, but when and where to use it so you sound natural and appropriate. Irish Grammar You Really Need to Know will help you gain the intuition you need to become a confident communicator in your new language.

by John Burke

€22.49

This breathtakingly exciting book discovers the Irish language as you've never learned it before! Fatti Burke's amazing illustrations and her father John's fabulous teaching bring the language alive with every turn of the page. A visual introduction to Ireland's language for young and old, you will learn your first thousand words, discover your culture and enjoy the fabulous quirks and features of your native tongue! Bringing a contemporary appeal to a classic subject, get ready to fall in love with your language. It's Irish as you've never seen it before! This is the third book from the bestselling father and daughter duo behind Irelandopedia and Historopedia, which have sold over 100,000 copies.

by Maria Herbert-Liew

€8.11

The home of trusted dictionaries and thesauruses.An ideal first Irish dictionary for kids aged 5+ and above, designed to introduce Irish vocabulary to children in a fun, easy and memorable way.Fully updated for 2021, this beautifully illustrated dictionary introduces children to their first 500 Irish words with example sentences to help children remember words and translations from English to Irish.Listed in English-to-Irish alphabetical order and with themed pages, the Collins First Irish Dictionary provides curriculum-matched support for young learners of Irish. Ideal for children starting school.Audio files for each headword and phrase can be found at collins.co.uk/homeworkhelp

by Manchán Magan

€18.99

Uncover the secrets of our island in this engrossing look at magical landmarks across the country. Travelling province by province through Ireland, Manchán outlines the stories most closely associated with each site, focussing on a specific beast or creature from legend and highlighting a magical word or phrase in Irish alongside. Discover the dobharchú or water hound of Achill Island; the enchanted sow Cailcheir of Sligo’s Keash Caves; the Burren’s ollphéist or great serpent; the Caoránach or hairy worm of Lough Derg; the one-eyed salmon of Ballyshannon; and the man wolves of Ossory, County Kilkenny, amongst many others. This stunning gift book is a feast for the eyes for Manchán fans of all ages.

by Manchán Magan

€9.49

Manchán Magan is fascinated by words, particularly Irish words, and their connections to the natural world. Having enjoyed great success with the bestselling Tree Dogs, Banshee Fingers and Other Irish Words for Nature, he now brings his infectious wonder and enthusiasm for the Irish language to an even younger audience with this board book featuring simple translations for favourite animals, birds, fish and insects. The accompanying stunning black-line illustrations will transfix even the littlest reader. Teach your little one a cúpla focail from the get-go.

by James January-McCann

€6.53

A handy little language aid designed to be carried by Irish learners at all times. The booklet offers basic Irish grammar rules, as well as everyday phrases and a collection of the most commonly used Irish words.

by Ciarán Ó Pronntaigh

€7.19

This convenient pocket-sized dictionary covers all the translations you are likely to need in everyday usage of Irish. It covers modern terminology and includes an introduction to the use of Irish for those unfamiliar with the language. It is laid out clearly for intuitive use and will rapidly become an invaluable reference both in schools and for international visitors.

by Darach O'Seaghdha

€13.05

Bestseller & Winner of the Popular Non-Fiction Irish Book Award. 'Thought-provoking, irreverent and often laugh-out-loud hilarious' Irish Independent. "Motherfoclóir" [focloir means 'dictionary' and is pronounced like a rather more vulgar English epithet] is a book based on the popular Twitter account @theirishfor. As the title suggests, Motherfoclóir takes an irreverent, pun-friendly and contemporary approach to the Irish language. The translations are expanded on and arranged into broad categories that allow interesting connections to be made, and sprinkled with anecdotes and observations about Irish and Ireland itself, as well as language in general. The author includes stories about his own relationship with Irish, and how it fits in with the most important events in his life. This is a book for all lovers of the quirks of language.