Hello All:
Let me thank you again for the wonderful responses to my question re: childrens' tapes in Irish.
Since posting, I've read that BBC is dubbing the Teletubbies in Irish. Is that true? And if so, is there any hope of getting those on tape (legally of course)? My 2 year old could relate to that very easily, and frankly, I'm more likely to follow along myself at that level :) Though the Muzzy video is engaging too.

Thanks again,
Brian

I've heard about the BBC dubbing the Teletubbies too. If you have someone tape it for you, I'm not certain it would still be considered private use and therefore legal. And you'd have to have it converted for North American use (I'm assuming that is where you are.) You could also contact the BBC, either in England or NI. A friend of mine got an Irish-language videotape from them by calling Belfast. Cartoons are the way to go. Kids get too hooked into them, which is an advantage for once when the aim is language-learning.

When I was home in Dublin over Christmas I remember seeing the Teletubbies in Irish on
Teilifís na Gaeilge (or TG4, as it is now called). It's being screened every afternoon I think, in addition to "Power Rangers sa Spás" and other children's programs. There's more info about the TG4 schedule on their website at

http://www.tg4.ie/

Seosamh is right about having the video tapes converted from PAL to NTSC format though. Hope that helps,

Risteárd.

Seosamh and (agus?) Risteád:
Thanks for the taping suggestions. As it happens, we hope to be heading to Ballyhuanis (Mayo) in the summer, and if the family there is equipped (I tend to doubt it!) perhaps I can tape some of the TG4 programs for the kids. Since it's off topic - would either of you consider sending me private email to explain how the tape coversion works? If not, I'll understand and figure it out somehow.
Thanks again,

Brian

Go raibh maith agat, a Risteard, as an eolas seo. Tá áthas orm go bhfuil na Power Rangers le fáil as Gaeilge chomh maith.

Is cuimhin liom bheith ar cuairt le cairde in Cois Fhairrge. Bhí duine díofa ag obair ar fhuaimrian a chur ar chartún Fhrancach. Ard-teic (gí go raibh sí ag déanamh cuid den obair sa seomra suí lena TV agus VCR féin) agus suimiúil.

Brian --
All broadcasting in Europe is in the PAL format, whereas North America conforms to NTSC format. A PAL format tape will not play in an NTSC system, even if they're both VHS, any more than a hairdryer manufactured for use in the USA will plug in and work with the standard household wiring in Ireland.

There are businesses in larger European cities that will convert tapes for a small charge, and there are similar businesses in the US. I have a friend who has connections to the foreign language learning lab at a university here, and he gets conversions done at a very advantageous rate. :-))) i.e., free.

Best of luck. I have a couple of the Bouli tapes, and they're a hoot.