I wondering from those of you in the know if there are any Irish audiobooks (above child level). I know this might be asking much since many books are not even translated into Irish. I figure they would be great in following the text while listening to someone read it -- an immediate way to associate the written text with the sounds. I am up for any suggestions down this route.

Go raibh maith agat!

(Message edited by seánw on July 14, 2009)

There are indeed! Take a look here:
http://www.litriocht.com/shop/index.php?cPath=30

Moladh eile uaimse, go háirithe dó siúd atá tógtha le Gaeilge an iarthair - another one I can recommend, particularly if your Irish has, or aspires to have, Connemara tendencies - is the RnaG production of "Cré na Cille", which comes on 8 CDs. The book is back in print now, buíochas le Dia, but you'll have to buy it separately.

Even if you don't understand the half of it (and most beginners won't) you'll be able to follow along, and it's well worth listening le blas na Gaeilge a fháil, to get the taste of the dialect. There are occasional elisions, but by and large it sticks to the book. Be prepared to stop and start a lot though, as it's virtually all dialogue, and the dialogue takes place at normal conversational speed, which in Connemara can be pretty fast.

It's also fairly repetitive, which does help a lot.... and funny!

Dála an scéil, más fonnaí stuif¹ atá uainn, ní mé cén fáth nár rinneadh áidiobúc² riamh den Bhéal Bocht. Feictear dom gur mhór an hit a dhéanfadh sé.
_______________________________________________
¹ ábhar grinn
² fuaimleabhar

Ceart agat, Abigail. Caithfidh gur éist mé le Cré na Cille ceithre huaire. Anois ba bhreá liom an leabhar "Pádraic Mháire Bháin" a chloisteáil á léamh i gcanúint Acla. Déistfinn le "Cúirt an Mheáin Oíche" chomh maith dá mbeadh sé ar fáil nó "An Gleann is a raibh ann" i nGaelainn na nDéiseach. Is iontach an áit an carr le héisteacht lena leithéidí.

Go maith thú Abigail.Personally 8cds would be a tall order though.Something longer than Dic agus a chat and less taxing than An Biobla Naofa sems to be hard to get.I'm reading 'Rúin' le Patricia Scanlan.Very modern Irish.Wish I had it on cd.

Poetry is a great mnemonic form .I got 'Caoineadh Art Ui Laoire on CD in a setting by Peadar O Riada.But that's about it.One is reduced to speaking stuff into a cassette otherwise.

"Cúirt an Mheáin Oíche"

Ar fáil, léite ag cainteoir dúchais an Chlár.

Fuair mé féin cóip - saor ón aisce - ó Leabharlann an Chláir.

Tá stuif Sheáin Uí Riordáin ar fáil ar cd.

Tá cd le cuid mhór Béaloideas atá Pádraig Ó Baoighill a fhoilsiú fá láthair.

Tá fios agam gur thaifead Raidió Fáilte an Béal Bocht - gaibhigí i dteagmháil leo.

GRMA a Ggn! I'll check that lot out.

Macdara,
I was able to find Rúin at the link below (ISBN: 9781407417325).

http://www.wfhowes.co.uk/catalogue/titles.php?&t=3341

Maith an fear! GRMA a Sheáin.