Our Native Irish Speakers

In the first half of 2024, we travelled around Gaeltacht an Eachréidh to record the native Irish speakers of the area on camera.

Student Alanagh Ní Chonghaile Ní Ghríofa and Irish Language Officer Ciaran Tierney discovered words such as “siofra” (changeling), as they recorded the unique Irish of this Gaeltacht to the north and east of Galway City on camera for future generations.
A “changeling” was a a first born son who was disguised by his parents to “fool the fairies”, a tradition which continued in Co. Galway well into the 20th century.
We are so grateful to the people in this Gaeltacht area who welcomed us ino their homes and were thrilled to complete editing the recordings at the end of 2024. The videos have been edited by Conor O’Donnell and are now available to view online.