I have begun to study Irish and to test the water I just finished the 8 lesson course through Pimsleur and I really enjoyed it. I know it is by no means comprehensive but it was a way for me to find out if I like the language.

I plan on attending a weekend workshop in July that will allow me to attend free Irish language classes where I live but in the mean time I would like to continue my studies at home. I have searched the internet to find study materials that are good and have a general consensus but it has been difficult to say the least. So far I have found the following materials that seem ok-

Basic Irish Grammar Workbook followed by Intermediate Irish.

Buntús Cainte First steps in spoken Irish 1 and 2

I also picked up Rosetta Stone Irish a week or so ago but did not want to use it until I finished the Pimsleur course.

Anyone else know any good materials for a beginner to read and write Irish? I think the speaking part will be the easiest but I am worried about the other two.

Go raibh maith agat

Fáilte a Sheamuis,

When you're up for it, you may want to practice your Irish on the Irish-only forum here. You'll find so many helpful people on both forums. Using the Irish-only forum is like an immersion program, but it's one that you can use as you see fit - even if it's the most basic of Irish.

Just a suggestion.

David

Thank for the suggestion. That is part of the reason I joined this forum as it seemed like a good resource for the future. My main goal at this point is to find something that tackles the early stages of writing and reading and grammar and puts it into some kind of excercise format that I can read and then do some work on. Soemthing a little more structured.

I think between the Rosetta Stone and watching TG4 (Ros na Rún is a suprisingly good show with subtitles) and Radio na Gaeltachta I will gain some decent vocabulary. It is fun picking up words I already know when they say them in the show.

Dia dhuit a Shéamuis,

I started out with Pimsleur, too. Then I took an online course called GaelTalk; it was eight weeks of very hard work but I learnt a lot in a short amount of time.

Here's the link:
http://www.gaeltalk.net/

There is a free sample lesson so you can check it out and see if you like it.

Quote: "My main goal at this point is to find something that tackles the early stages of writing and reading and grammar and puts it into some kind of excercise format that I can read and then do some work on. Soemthing a little more structured"

Bail ó Dhia ort a Shéamuis,

Going by what you have said you are after, I think you'd get a lot out of 'Learning Irish' by Michael Ó Siadhail. You have Pimsleur as a background (have you gone to school in Ireland and studied Irish?) and so you should have no probs with Ó Siadhail's 'Learning Irish' course. It starts with basic enough stuff anyway, comes in book and cd set, so no need to get the older cassette tapes version which is still out there. There are exercises with answers given and the grammar is really well explained throughout.

Yep, other than that no substitute for at least an hour's study a day and as much listening to native speakers on Tg4 and RnaG as you can.

In a couple of months or less even you could move onto reading the simpler novels written by native speakers, and then later on read any other material you'd be interested in.

Ah yes- there are two famous dictionaries that are indispensable. Niall Ó Dónaill 'Foclóir Gaeilge Béarla' and Thomas de Bhaldraithe English to Irish. If you are planning to really learn Irish, you will definitely be needing these down the line.

Thanks Sineadw

That sounds like exactly what I am looking for. It will be nice to be able to see a word and understand how to sound it out with all of the various rules and what not.

Any reccomendations for a simple novel to try out in a few months?

I'm a grammar nut, so I always look for good books when I begin a language. For Irish verbs I really like the basic "Briathra na Gaeilge".

You can use PayPal here:
http://www.siopagaeilge.ie/products/Leabhair%20Ghramada%ED/product2-10.htm

Another good online store:
http://www.litriocht.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=795

Ádh mór ort!