Many people have raised bad experiences with trying to speak Irish in the Gaeltacht. Some reasons have been given:
1) Shyness/insecurity
2) As Jonas never stops telling us, some areas in the official gaeltacht are not really Irish speaking.
Another reason that has not been mentioned, but I think is valid, is rural resentment about being told by outsiders how to run their affairs. I think some at least of this is justified.

So much for the negative side.

HOWEVER, I have to say that my experiences over the past few years in the Gaeltacht of Corca Dhuibhne, west of An Daingean (Dingle town) have been overwhelmingly positive - so much so that when there I rarely have to speak english. Even in Dingle, which according to the census has only 64% Irish speakers (that figure may be wrong) I spoke Irish in any and every shop, and only had to switch to english when the shop attendant was obviously foreign. On one occasion, the attendent (who was Irish) asked me to slow down as she was only learning Irish.

I just returned from a trip to Oideas Gael in Glen Colmcille, Donegal, and had the time of my life! First of all the 3-day classes were superbly taught and everyone was so upbeat about speaking Gaeigle. All the folks who work at Oideas Gael are sooooooo nice! I found that I was able to speak Gaeigle with some of the local folks, but I noticed that the younger people who lived locally, were not inclined to speak in Irish.

I then spent another week bouncing about Ireland, looking for other opportunities to speak Irish. I was able to speak with some people, but it was on a limited basis. I attribute this limited exposure to poor planning on my part; in hindsight I should have spent more time locating the Gaeltacht areas while traveling around Ireland.

I consider myself to be very outgoing, so I had no problem striking up a conversation with folks in Ireland, but I didn't want to come across as though they were there for my convenience. I think that on my next trip to Ireland, I'll try to become part of the community, albeit still a visitor/tourist, and try to live the Irish language.

Dáithí

Is breac Ghaeltacht (faraor) Gleann Colm Cille. Tá lucht Oideas Gael agus roinnt daoine eile ag déanamh a ndícheall - ach is deacair nósanna teangain a iompu ón mBéarla arís.

Gaeigle? Teanga nua?

Mar eolas, d'aoí na ceiste:

Tarlaíonn 'Gaeigle' i gcanúint na Ceathrún Rua minic go leor, ar chúinsí foghraíochta ar ndóigh.

Tarlaíonn 'Gaeilg', 'Gaolainn' agus 'Gaolaing' chomh maith, ar chúinsí staire teangan.