Turas Teanga with Courtney Breen

Every Irish learner has their own unique journey. A journey shaped by curiosity and discovery. Sometimes it begins at school, sometimes abroad, and sometimes long after formal education has ended – often shaped by children or family members! Other times, it begins with a small decision: signing up for a course, opening a book, or using a word with confidence for the first time.

But there is usually one thing that all learners share: a desire to connect more deeply with the Irish language and its culture.

With Turas Teanga, we are celebrating the stories of our own learners. What inspired them to learn or relearn Irish, the challenges they’ve overcome, and the progress they’ve made along the way. This series offers an honest, personal insight into the experience of learning Irish with Gaelchultúr, both in Ireland and internationally.

Through this series, we are giving our learners a platform to share their stories, and perhaps inspire someone else to take their next step with Irish.

This is Turas Teanga!

Learner: Courtney Breen

Tell us about yourself – what is your background and where are you currently based?

My name is Courtney Breen. I was born and raised in Massachusetts, and I currently live in Boston.

What or who inspired you to learn (or re-learn) Irish?

Several years ago, m'athair (my dad) showed me an old family document that was in Gaeilge (Irish). He asked if I would bring it with me on an upcoming trip to Ireland to see if anyone could help me translate it. I did as he asked, but unfortunately I was unable to find someone who could help. That experience sparked my curiosity about an teanga (the language), particularly why it seemed no one spoke Gaeilge in America or even in Ireland. My dad recalled hearing his seantuismitheoirí (grandparents) speak Gaeilge fluently, but only at home and only with each other.

While I can’t know for certain why they never passed on the language, it was likely due to the stigma associated with being Irish and the assumption that their children would never need to know it. That being said, I’m learning Gaeilge because I feel it’s important to reclaim the language for them and for all of the sinsir na hÉireann (Irish ancestors) who were not allowed to speak it freely, with bród (pride). Plus, I was finally able to translate that document, which turned out to be my great-great-aunt’s baptism certificate.

What experience did you have with Irish before you started with Gaelchultúr?

I began learning Gaeilge (Irish) by watching YouTube videos, which helped me understand the basic sounds of vowels and consonants. Then I took a course through the Irish Cultural Center of Greater Boston and participated in Scoil Scairte with the Trailblazery.

What made you choose Gaelchultúr as part of your language journey?

There are several reasons I chose to study with Gaelchultúr. Firstly, they offer a structured curriculum that can be built upon and progressed through over time. They provide live classes rather than pre-recorded ones, which allows me to practice with other students and ask the teacher questions in real time. Finally, the classes are offered in the US/Canada time zone, which fits well with my work schedule.

What aspect of Gaelchultúr's courses has helped you the most to progress in your language journey?

The ability to attend live online classes has been pivotal to my learning experience. Being able to ask questions is a fundamental part of learning, and it’s something you miss out on when taking pre-recorded classes.

How do you use Irish in your daily life now – at home, at work, with friends or online?

My partner is Irish and is also relearning the language, so we text each other as Gaeilge (in Irish). It’s a fun way to learn new focail agus frásaí (words and phrases). I also like to listen to songs as Gaeilge, both traditional and more contemporary ones, like those by Kneecap.

What impact did learning Irish with Gaelchultúr have on your confidence or your identity?

Learning Gaeilge has instilled in me a stronger connection to mo shinsir (my ancestors). Six of my eight great-grandparents emigrated to Boston. Although I never knew them in life, I feel a sense of kinship and connection to them when speaking Gaeilge. The language offers me a framework through which to experience the world as they did, with wonder and beauty.

Nothing encapsulates this better than a quote by Dónall Ó Héalaí. In his TED Talk, “The Irish Language and Beauty,” Ó Héalaí says, “Irish allows me to see the world through somewhat of a different lens. It allows my imagination to flourish, and it has this extraordinary capacity to make things that could sometimes be otherwise dull and bland graceful and personal… This language connects me with my landscape and environment in a way that transcends what is visual and obvious, and it allows me to set foot into what the Irish writer John O'Donohue called ‘the invisible world.’"

What would you say to someone who is thinking about taking an Irish course, but isn't sure yet?

Gaeilge can seem overwhelming, especially if you grew up outside of Ireland and had no exposure to it. If someone isn’t quite sure they’re ready for a course, I would tell them to start by following Irish-language content creators on social media and watching YouTube videos. These are great ways to begin learning the alphabet, the sounds of the language, and cúpla focal agus frása nua (a few new words and phrases). From there, they could move on to an introductory course, such as the A1 course with Gaelchultúr, when they feel ready. That being said, the A1 course is also a great place to start, even if you don’t have any background in Gaeilge.

What was the biggest challenge you faced on this journey – and how did you overcome it?