I finally broke down and ordered the famous or infamous "Learning Irish" by M. Ó Siadhail that comes with four CD's for audio.

Initial impressions - THANK GOD for the audio component. It will be the life-saving element of this course.

On a funny note, the first CD has this bizarre effect that is just creepy as all get out. Basically the speaker says a given word, and then in the backgorund the word is repeated, faintly, but just loud enough to be heard.

So, we'll see. I'm cautiously optimistic now that I have a strictly laid-out course that features grammar, complete with audio. Wish me luck.

go n-éirí leat, a stócaigh!

(Bhraith mo bheansa go raibh an cúrsa úd i bhfad ró scartha ón ngnáth saol)

Basically the speaker says a given word, and then in the backgorund the word is repeated, faintly, but just loud enough to be heard.

An bhfuil tú ag eisteacht leis i gleann? . That interesting that you mention it, since I had to make CD's from my cassettes, which don't exhibit that echo you describe. B'fhéidir go raibh cainteoir i seomra aisfhuaimniúcháin?

FRC-GRMA