All across the country, more and more people are taking in part in Irish language ‘Conversation Circles’ which allow them to practice and improve their use of our native language in a friendly and welcoming setting.

And in late February 2025, we started a new ‘Ciorcal Comhrá’ at The Arches Hotel in Claregalway which has continued to attract a friendly mix of Gaeilgoirs throughout the past year on Thursday nights.

If one of your ambitions for 2026 is to practice or improve your Irish, then why not pay us a visit on Thursday evening?

Our weekly ‘Ciorcal Comhrá’ has been a huge success at The Arches since we held our first ‘Pop Up Gaeltacht’ there, attended by 40 people, back at the end of February.

Every Thursday night, Irish language enthusiasts meet up at the hotel – which has strong family links with the Irish language in this Gaeltacht area – for an hour of conversation at 8pm.

The same venue, The Arches, also hosts our weekly Irish language classes which sold out in advance of the start of the new term this (Tuesday) evening.

Our host Barbara Ni cDhonnacha is very welcoming and tries to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard. The event attracts a lovely mix of people from native Irish speakers to people who are attending our Tuesday classes and may not be fluent in the language.

Indeed, you don’t have to be fluent to take part.

“Until we started the ‘Ciorcal Comhrá’ at The Arches Hotel, I was not even sure that there was an appetite to revive the Irish language around Gaeltacht an Eachréidh,” says Ciaran Tierney, our Irish language planning offfcer.

“I was so thrilled when 40 people turned up for that first ‘Pop Up Gaeltacht’ back at the end of the February. There was such a happy atmosphere in the room and people were thrilled to have the chance to speak Irish in a welcoming social setting.”

While the weekly ‘Ciorcal Comhrá’ might not always attract 40 people, it attracts a very nice group of Irish language speakers and learners, and those who might be a bit ‘rusty’, every week.

Our friendly weekly gathering is back at The Arches Hotel this Thursday, for at least the next eight weeks, and all are welcome.