The language is emerging in all sorts of unexpected places. It’s in the success of the online Irish language course, Scoil Scairte. This is the year those of us who once followed the sparsely spread pop culture breadcrumbs, realised we had come upon a feast. The language, and Irish traditions more generally, are being liberated, diversified, owned, shared, and celebrated without strictness. There are no demands for fluency, rules or doctrine. It’s all a stimulating, giddy, chaotic, unpredictable remix. This is a new old thing. And it’s alive.
- Una Mullally, The Irish Times
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“Scoil Scairte was life changing for me. It felt almost spiritual at times. It’s one thing to learn a greeting but to weave the meanings, history, relationships with nature, interconnectedness with our ancestors, the diaspora and other indigenous peoples on top of all of that was nothing short of magical. I’m left wanting more for sure”
- Participant (Scoil Scairte)
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“I loved Scoil Scairte from start to finish. An awakening and remembering of language, culture and ancestry. It awakened deep memories of soul and spirit and wisdom, and touched my heart, as well as facilitating greater use and learning of the language on a daily basis”
- Elaine (Scoil Scairte Participant)
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“Scoil Scairte brought me on a journey unlike any other. Go hiontach"
- Annemarie Ní Churreáin (Poet)
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“Tá lúcháir orainn go bhfuil Scoil Scairte tagtha ar an bhfód. Níl a leithéid d’eispéireas foghlama feicthe againn cheana agus is iontach an rud é go bhfaighfidh daoine ar fud na cruinne taithí ar an nGaeilge agus ar an oidhreacht Ghaelach ar bhealach nua trí phobal the Trailblazery.” / “We’re thrilled to see Scoil Scairte (Hedge School) come to life. We haven’t seen a learning experience quite like this before and it’s exciting to think about the people all over the world that could experience the Irish language and heritage in a new way through the Trailblazery community.”
- Anna Davitt, Foras na Gaeilge
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"We're delighted at Dublin City Council to support Scoil Scairte in shining a light on the people and place of Dublin. It brings us immense pride to see the songs and stories of our home city and county placed centre-stage in this edition. Few cultural projects hold the heart of the Irish language quite like this one."
- Ray Yeates, Arts Officer at Dublin City Council
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“I've been doing Duolingo for about 5 years and I think it can only take you so far. Scoil Scairte is a deeper immersion with its guests, learning hub and Meitheal community. It has really made me determined to continue the journey.”
- Seán O'Connor (Scoil Scairte Participant)
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“Scoil Scairte offers a real insight into language and its relationship to environment and culture. I once heard someone say that Irish for them was like a ghost limb, something that was theirs but denied them. Learning Irish then reconnected that ghost limb. Scoil Scairte has helped me to identify that limb in myself and to reconnect with heritage and my place in it.”
- Participant (Scoil Scairte)
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“I am Irish, raised in England and now living in Scotland with that feeling of a missing limb, which was not satisfied by the touristy interpretation of what it means to be Irish. Scoil Scairte is much more in line with how I want to explore my Irish identity through nature, culture and experience. I was so struck by trauma, and came to reflect on my family’s experience of displacement.”
- Participant (Scoil Scairte)
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“Scoil Scairte is so much more than a simple language or culture class (says the language teacher). It pushes me further to learn an Ghaeilge after coming home to Ireland from 10 years working abroad. It has lit a fire in me that I never found learning other languages, it inspires energy and emotion in the language, and has got me singing Iontach Bheith Beo on a daily basis!“
- Scoil Scairte Participant
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“Scoil Scairte is the home I've been looking for - a gathering of kindred souls, eager to explore the rich and whimsical world of reclaiming our imaginations through their very source, that lineage of memory we call the Irish language.“
- Scoil Scairte Participant
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“As a member of the Irish diaspora, Scoil Scairte feels like a homecoming to your true identity. I feel sheltered in the embrace of my ancestral heritage and language. Knowing that my grandparents spoke these words that are like golden threads passing back through generations inspires me. Now when I say these same words my heart fills with grá and solas.”
- Scoil Scairte Participant
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“Scoil Scairte is a novel holistic approach to teaching Irish with guides who have compassionately confronted their heritage and are reclaiming the intertwined language and culture in all its mystical glory.”
- Scoil Scairte Participant
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“Scoil Scairte has been very inspiring for me. I enjoy learning from the guides about their love and passion for the language each week. These lessons have transformed and deepened my relationship to the Irish language.”
- Kristin, Scoil Scairte Participant
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“Scoil Scairte is such an amazing learning experience and I really appreciate the diversity of the guides each week. It is wonderful to not only learn the language, but to also learn about the culture and the history of Ireland.”
- Scoil Scairte Participant
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“Thank you for creating such an inspiring Scoil Scairte. I moved back home to Co. Down 10 years ago having lived away for 20 years. Scoil Scairte somehow encompasses the reason I moved home. It was deep in my bones but I had no idea how to articulate it. Everything you have curated resonates very deeply with me.”
- Jane, Scoil Scairte Participant
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“I am French, so I didn’t have any Irish. I'm hugely enjoying Scoil Scairte and I can't believe the many ways the Irish language already interweaves with many aspects of my life. My children have become eager to help me with pronunciation and everyday phrases, which is a lovely, if totally unexpected, way to connect with them.”
- Scoil Scairte Participant
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“Scoil Scairte is a novel holistic approach to teaching Irish with guides who have compassionately confronted their heritage and are reclaiming the intertwined language and culture in all its mystical glory.”
- Scoil Scairte Participant
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“At Scoil Scairte there is a real feeling of community and pride in reconnecting with the Irish language and culture. I feel so lucky to have had my eyes opened to the beauty and scope of the language, particularly the connection to nature.“
- Scoil Scairte Participant
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“Scoil Scairte successfully takes Irish out of the classroom and emphasises the more attractive aspects of the language, in particular its connection to the rural community and the spiritual.”
- Alannah , Scoil Scairte Participant
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