Certificate in Professional Irish
I found the course to be good, challenging enough but not too much. I would certainly recommend it to any colleague interested in improving their Irish.
Rannpháirtí / Participant
The course will certainly help me deal with the public through Irish.
Very interactive - I could see the improvement week after week. The material on ranganna.com was very helpful in consolidating what was studied in the classes. It was challenging but very effective.
Rannpháirtí / Participant
Description
The Certificate in Professional Irish is a QQI-accredited programme available at Levels 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). Delivered entirely online, this part-time course is specifically designed for public sector employees who, under the Official Languages Acts 2003 and 2021, are required to provide services through Irish. It is suitable for all professionals who wish to effectively incorporate more Irish into their workplace communications.
This programme offers a practical and structured pathway for learners to acquire the Irish-language skills necessary to provide services through Irish and gain a recognised qualification at the same time.
Course Aims
The aim of this programme is to equip participants with the language skills and confidence needed to provide high-quality services through Irish in the context of their work. It plays a vital role in helping public bodies meet their statutory obligations under the Official Languages Acts 2003 and 2021.
The programme is also ideal for professionals seeking to enhance their career prospects by upskilling in Irish, as demand continues to grow for candidates proficient in the language across a range of sectors. Successful completion will enable participants to more confidently integrate Irish into their daily interactions with customers, clients and colleagues, and in social settings.
Course Levels
The Certificate in Professional Irish is offered at Levels 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). Learners are assessed prior to the course commencing to ensure they are placed at the level that matches their language ability, for the optimum learning experience.
Course Content
The programme covers both general everyday Irish and workplace-specific vocabulary and phrases.
The topics covered at each level vary but examples of everyday topics covered include:
- Background and where you live
- Pastimes and interests
- Daily life
- Education
- Holidays and travel
- Literature
- Current affairs
Workplace topics are covered to support learners when communicating with the public, clients and colleagues and to support their career progression. Work specific topics also vary between levels but examples include:
- Answering phone calls and taking messages
- Dealing with difficult conversations
- Making arrangements
- Writing emails
- Interviews
- Taking minutes
Course Structure
This programme adopts a blended learning approach that involves:
- Live online classes: Participants attend a 3-hour live online class lead by an expert instructor each week for a period of 10 weeks.
- Independent study on our e-learning website: Learners are provided access to designated resources on ranganna.com, Gaelchultúr’s e-learning website, to study independently between classes. These resources give access to supporting materials, including audio and visual files, and interactive exercises, that support revision of what is taught in class and help learners prepare for upcoming classes.
Assessment
Learners complete weekly tasks throughout the course that are designed to assess their reading, writing and listening skills. This continuous assessment is worth 55% of the overall marks. Comprehensive individualised feedback is provided to learners after each task, enabling them to monitor their development and focus on areas for improvement between tasks.
Learners also undertake an oral exam at the end of the programme to assess their speaking skills, and this accounts for the remaining 45% of their grade*.
*The weighting of assessment components at Level 2 differs slightly from the other levels.
Course brochure
Book the course
3 Month course
|
30 Hours
|
5 Levels
|
€745.00
Level 2 (A1) Level 2 is suitable for those who have little or no knowledge of the Irish language (e.g. people who did not learn Irish in school or who left school early) but who would be interested in learning the basics of language. The emphasis on the course is on the spoken language and on developing listening skills, but students also have some opportunities to read and to write the language.
Level 3 (A2) Level 3 is suitable for those who have previously studied the language and are able to communicate at a very basic level in Irish (they can talk about their background and where they live, for example). The emphasis in the course is on developing speaking and listening skills, but students also have some opportunities to read and to write the language.
Level 4 (B1) Level 4 is intended for those who have studied Irish at school, perhaps a number of years ago, who understand a good deal of the language but have had few opportunities to use it in recent years. The emphasis in the course is on the spoken language and on developing listening skills, but students also have some opportunities to read and to write the language.
Level 5 (B2) Level 5 is suitable for people who are comfortable speaking Irish and who use the language from time to time – in a social context or at work, for example. The course focuses on developing the learner’s speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills.
Level 6 (C1) Level 6 is aimed at those who are fluent in Irish and who wish to focus on more challenging topics. The participants have an opportunity to add to the richness of their language and gain a better understanding of grammar, and they also learn useful vocabulary relating to work and contemporary life.
Levels
Day
Time
Start Date
Level 2 (A1)
Wednesday
9:30am - 12:45pm
Almost full
10 September 2025 Dates + Register now
Level 3 (A2)
Thursday
9:30am - 12.45pm
Almost full
11 September 2025 Dates + Register now
Level 4 (B1)
Thursday
9:30am - 12:45pm
Almost full
11 September 2025 Dates + Register now
Level 5 (B2)
Thursday
2:15pm - 5:30pm
Space available
11 September 2025 Dates + Register now
Level 5 (B2)
Friday
9.30am - 12.45pm
Booked out
12 September 2025 Dates + Waiting list
Level 6 (C1)
Friday
9:30am - 12.45pm
Space available
12 September 2025 Dates + Register nowOur teaching approach
Gaelchultúr has developed comprehensive syllabuses and every class at every level follows these syllabuses.
The communicative approach to language teaching is used by Gaelchultúr’s teachers, giving learners the opportunity to play an active part in each class.
A strong emphasis is placed on group and pair work and learners therefore have a chance to practise what they’ve been taught. The main focus is on speaking and listening in all classes (with the exception of Cruinneas sa Ghaeilge), but reading and writing activities also feature.
Learn more about usFAQs
You can register for the Certificate in Professional Irish on www.gaelchultur.com. The registration process on the website includes an assessment survey. If the course is being funded by your workplace you must seek permission (from your manager or training unit) prior to booking your place.
Note: If your workplace comes under OneLearning, the new Learning and Development Centre for the Civil Service, and you wish to undertake a course at Level 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, please contact your Learning and Development/Training Unit who will arrange the training through OneLearning.
Continuous assessment (written exercises, reading comprehensions and listening comprehensions) is a core component of the course and students are required to undergo an oral examination on completing the programme.
Those wishing to attend the course at Level 3, Level 4, Level 5 or Level 6 must have a certain minimum competency in Irish. This is assessed in a pre-course assessment survey.
Participants must have basic computer skills (e.g. an ability to send and receive emails, use a browser, play sound files). They must have access to a computer for several hours each week to participate in the class and to prepare for it.
Most students who successfully complete the Certificate in Professional Irish have the opportunity to progress to the next level. However, to ensure that that level is suitable for the learner, he/she may be asked to undertake a short assessment before moving on.
The live online classes last for three hours and are held one day a week for 10 weeks. They are highly interactive: the participants have an opportunity to speak to the teacher and to take part in pair and group work activities. A computer situated in a quiet space with a working camera and microphone is required.
Terms and Conditions
- Course fees may be refunded in full to a learner up to five working days prior to the commencement of the course. The refund must by requested by contacting Gaelchultúr’s staff by email or by phone. (Our contact details can be found here.)
- If, following the first class, the student decides that he/she would like to discontinue the course, 60% of the total fee will be refunded to him/her. Thereafter, no refund will be made to the student.
- Gaelchultúr Teoranta has the right to cancel a class or to amalgamate classes.
- If it is necessary to cancel a class, every effort will be made to place the participants in another class or to register them for an online course. A full refund will be made to the customer if these options do not suit him/her.
- A student may defer his/her registration only once. If he/she wishes to defer registration, he/she must notify Gaelchultúr’s staff of this by week three of the course. No refund will be made to the student if he/she does not accept a place on the next course he/she is due to attend.
- Gaelchultúr will accept no responsibility in the event that a student registers at the wrong level. We advise our students to do our online Irish test or to seek our advice to ensure that they are undertaking the correct level.
- If a student wants to move to another level, we cannot guarantee that a space will be available for him/her at that level. Should a space be available, Gaelchultúr will charge a €10 administration fee for making the change. A change may only be made to another level following the first class.
- Course fees must be paid in full prior to commencement of the course. Attendance on a course is subject to full payment of fees.
- Every student must abide by our Code of Conduct when attending a course with us.
- People under 18 years of age are not permitted to attend courses other than those specified as being suitable for those under 18 years of age. Our Child Protection Statement can be found here.
