Do the universities in Ireland offer beginning courses for students with no ability in Irish, or do they all start at a higher level because of the presupposed knowledge of Irish from the school system?

At Coleraine and Belfast Universities (both in NI), they offer beginning courses, during one year, called Diploma in the Irish Language. I did it, it was excellent - the teachers were excellent. I don't know if such programmes exist in the Republic of Ireland.

I am going to the National University of Ireland, Galway next year and my program requires Irish proficiency. The classes begin at zero because they get many international students at the college--then that beginner class ends with basically a sufficient/non-sufficient grade. The class also seeps into Connemara for some native speaking experience. I am hoping to begin to teach myself something before I begin the class, but I think the class will be do-able because most people will have no prior knowledge.

Bethrua, what kind of program is it exactly that you're doing, or what degree are you pursuing? I've really been looking into NUIG and I'd love to be accepted after I graduate (I'd be international student, of course), but if I start with this zero class can I pursue Irish from scratch, with knowing nothing beforehand? Do you know if it's very difficult for international students to get into Irish universities (like NUIG), who don't have super perfect genius grades? What do they usually ask for?

Hmm, also I was looking at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and they have a Welsh speaking dorm, plus I got the impression that the language had a substantial presence in the study body around the campus. Does NUIG have any sort of house like this? How widespread is the use of Irish as a general community language at the school, do you know?

The University of Ulster only offers the Diploma part-time now, over two years, in Belfast, Magee (Derry) and a couple of centres in Donegal. Places on the latter are geared towards native speakers. The course is also franchised in Armagh at the college of further and higher education.

I did the Diploma full time when it was at Coleraine and it was excellent. I'm now doing (struggling) to finish the BA Hons in Irish.

As for international students, there were two American people in my Diploma class but they both dropped out after not being able to get funding from their education board.

As for Irish around campus, in Coleraine all the signs in the Students Union are in Irish, and some things like bar cards etc are bilingual. But being in Coleraine it's not exactually the most forward thinking of places in terms of Irish being accepted. Even though the local council have Cúil Raithin as part of their crest!

My best bet would be Derry because you're only about 40 mins from the Gaeltacht. But saying that the teachers in Belfast are brilliant!

http://news.ulster.ac.uk/releases/2006/2675.html

(Message edited by Somhairle on October 05, 2006)

http://www.nuigalway.ie/gaeilge/faisneis/faisneis1.html

quote:

Is ionad nua-aimseartha Áras na Gaeilge - mionGhaeltacht láidir a chothaíonn an Ghaeilge agus an cultúr Gaelach, a fhreastalaíonn ar chomhluadar Gaeilge na hOllscoile, na cathrach agus na Gaeltachta, agus a neartaíonn cuisle na Gaeilge trí ghníomhaíochtaí éagsúla oideachais, oiliúna agus sóisialta.

In University College Cork if you are a student of anything you can get FREE* Irish language classes. Fourteen in all. There is even a subsidised** weekend away to trip to the Dingle Gaeltacht.

And if you are an ERASMUS/SOCRATES student you can do Irish for credits.

All classes are from beginners all the way up until proficient and fluent speakers.

Aside from that there are Irish language meetings and an Irish language café where you can enjoy live music, free coffe and biscuits.

* If you attend 80% of the classes
** Only pay for food and drink. Transport and lodgings for free.

Whoa Aindréas. I can only answer a few questions, but there's a great link above and the International Affairs office at NUIG is very helpful. I am getting my MA in Irish Studies, so I will have classes in many different areas (history, english, politics, etc.)--and I need to be proficient in Irish for the degree. I am American and beginning with little Irish, but I am not worried about starting from scratch. NUIG has a pretty big international student population and I was told that the beginner Irish classes are nearly all American students. You'll have to look into the specific program you want, but my program requires an (American) GPA of 3.0 or a certain level of honors in the European grading system (the prospectus lists exactly what grades you need to get into each program). I am not sure about the housing based on language, but there is a lot of housing and they will help you find that through the NUIG website. Good luck with your search.

If you did your diploma you could then do an arts degree or maybe soemthing like what i do i.e. Enterpreneurship & french in Irish..
There's other courses around where you can study through Gaeilge instead of the language itself.

Somhairle, thank you for sharing your experience. Coleraine sounds really nice. I'm a bit frightened to hear that two Americans dropped out because of financial issues. :-/ But I've heard great things about the Irish program there from multiple people.

Aonghus, ahhhr so much Irish! =D I'll start tackling the text to make some sense of it; it'll be a good exercise.

Unregistered Guest, that's really neat! Thank you for the information. I'll be sure to look into Cork.

Bethrua, sorry for all the questions, you are so very lucky! I'm envious beyond reason. I'd want more than anything to go to a school like NUIG, and to hear from another American that's been accepted is heartening. =) I could have a multitude of further questions to ask you, but I don't want to overwhelm. Perhaps another time. ^_^

Domhnall, I'm still figuring out how all these college systems work ... but I think I'm looking for what you describe, so like I could a joint honors with something like Irish and German. I was looking at Prifysgol Cymru Aberystwyth and they have an awesome program where you can do Welsh and Irish combined (I don't think NUIG did Welsh? hmmm) but I wonder if you can add a third language to that ...

Thank you everyone for all the information you've shared. I really appreciate it!

UCD do Welsh and Gaeilge.. And i think TCD do aswell..

"In University College Cork if you are a student of anything you can get FREE* Irish language classes. Fourteen in all. There is even a subsidised** weekend away to trip to the Dingle Gaeltacht. "

Interesting that the Cork students have to pass through Baile Bhúirne to get to Dingle. So much for supporting the local economy! Having said that I know UCC have a facility oustide in Ballyferriter - a large house with what looks like a classroom attached. I think it's called Dún Chíomháin within walking distance of the beautiful beach at Béal Bán

Aindreas

Here is the link for Ionad na Gaeilge Labhartha. They have classes for students who may not have previously taken Gaeilge as a subject and at very reasonable cost. I can't see an English langauage version of the site but there are e-mail contact details there if you cannot translate easily

http://www.ucc.ie/igl/IGL/index.php

Rud amháin eile..

Most of the universities have Oifig na Gaeilge /Irish language office, Oifigeach Gaeilge / Irish language officer , Aras na Gaeilge (Subsidised accomodation for Gaeilgeoirí)

In DCU we have NONE of these anymore.. DIT have just opened a fabulous new Oifig na Gaeilge.. Agus iad ag obair leis an gCumann Gaelach nua atá faoi lán seoil anois sa choláiste sin.

Coláiste Pádraig (That's a special T.G. rule ain't it..No h on the saints name, even though the coláiste use Phádraig???) have a voluntary Oifigeach na Gaeilge and she is setting up a Cumann Gaelach today..

Somhairle, bhfuil aon rud mar sin luaite thuas sna hOllscoileanna sna 6 chontae?

Suaimhneas and Domhnall, thanks for the information! I will look into the places you suggest.

Domhnall is right. You can learn Irish in TCD. I'm actually in a class right now. It's free but you do have to do certain subjects to get offered it. (I think it's for courses with no other language offer i.e. Science can, BESS cant)You can do Irish for beginners, intermediate and advanced and a load of other courses too! Places are simingly limited so you have to get your application in fast. The course is also worth some extra points in your final mark for the year(I think it's an extra 5%. Hope that helps.