To all proficient speakers of Irish, what has been the most difficult part of the language to come to be able to use effectively and fluently? What do you struggle with most? If you're a native speaker, tell me what you're thankful for not having to learn from textbooks. =)

Well, for me, the hard bits have been the ones which can't be explained in a grammar book, but rather which you have to just get a knack for. Examples include:

(1) Use of emphasised pronouns, e.g. mise.
(2) Use of cleavage, e.g. Is sa phictiúrlann a bhí siad.
(3) Strange use of the copula, e.g. Is suimiúil an scéal é sin.
(4) Also, to a smaller extent, aurally recognising certain mutations, e.g. b'fhearr liom.

'Seans caint le daoine anseo i Meiriceá ach tá mé ag dul go hEireann amárach. Beidh mé ag smaoineamh oraibh. Is fearr tomadh isteach ná rud ar bith eile.
:)
C

Mar chainteoir dúchais, I am grateful for not having to learn the gender and the tenses of the verb and not having to think in English and translate mentally before spouting out whatI have to say or write.I am glad also of just ignoring the "New Irish" which is rife in the media and is just uttered to "Dumb the language Down" for the dim wits, who want go get ratings and grab advertisers for the young cohort that advertisers target.