Meánrang Uachtar - Upper Intermediate

Seán Mór Ó Daimhín- I first started learning Irish in a serious way in 1983 at the age of 19. After three weeks I started teaching Irish to others, studying hard to stay three lessons ahead of my learners on the little ingenious book Progress in Irish! And I have been doing this for 40 years now. I am still learning, and still teaching. It’s an integral part of my life. I love helping others to take the same journey as myself. I enjoy questions from learners. I have been teaching with the local branch of Conradh na Gaeilge in Strabane since 1996, and also, in more recent years, on a part-time basis with Ulster University on their Diploma course. I’m not sure about the modern ‘philosophy of fun’ around language-learning. Language learning, in my view, is a bit like building a house. There’s hard work to be done in the rain, if you want to eventually sit in front of the warm glowing fire. But we can have a bit of banter and humour along the way, to ease the dedicated work. I have learnt over the years that language-learning is also different from all other subjects, because unlike other subjects, language is very personal, very much a part of the person. Things like embarrassment, hesitation, confidence, emotions, and habits, all come into play in language learning. This doesn’t happen with subjects like algebra or chemistry or information technology. Apart from teaching Irish, myself and my wife Gina raised our two daughters with Irish. We were also a part of the Gaelscoil community in our native Strabane for many years, helping others to found the school in 1997. Our daughters went to the Gaelscoil, and both are now back working in Gaelscoils here in Tír Eoghain. I help to collate and edit Irish language articles for two monthly supplements in the papers across Dún na nGall (Súil Thart) and Tír Eoghain (Iris Eoghanach). I write a weekly bilingual Dialann/Diary for the local county papers too. I find that writing in Irish maintains and develops my own Irish. And hopefully, it provides both native speakers and learners with some material of interest (occasionally!) to read in Irish in their local papers. My daytime job is also in the area of Irish language development and translation within the local government sector, for over 23 years. Outside of the language, cycling is my favourite physical activity, and I try to cycle at least three days per week. While I don’t have a huge stock of tunes, I also love to play my small button-key accordion, a bit of mandolin and a little less banjo. My cycling, the Irish language, and my music, all bring me to many places, and bring me into the company of many people. I look forward to getting to know those of you who come to my class.