Derek Hollingsworth
@derekholly7.bsky.social
| Psychology | Postcolonialism | Reclaiming my language | Co-founder 7 Cathaoirleach Pobal Gaeilge 15 | #GaeilgeGachLá #100DaysofGaeilge
Irishlanguagematters.com
Irishlanguagematters.com
Pinned
Dubliners,
Are you looking for Irish classes where time & cost aren't an issue?
Try ours!
These start NEXT MONDAY - not Tuesday as per pic. Had to change the night.
Email pobalgaeilge15@gmail.com
Bígí linn! #Gaeilge #IrishLanguage
Please share!!!
Are you looking for Irish classes where time & cost aren't an issue?
Try ours!
These start NEXT MONDAY - not Tuesday as per pic. Had to change the night.
Email pobalgaeilge15@gmail.com
Bígí linn! #Gaeilge #IrishLanguage
Please share!!!
"It's a language nobody speaks, it's hard to understand, & I'm not interested in it".
People say this about Irish.
But this was said to me about the central role Shakespeare has in the Irish education system.
The people who say this about Irish don't say this about Shakespeare.
People say this about Irish.
But this was said to me about the central role Shakespeare has in the Irish education system.
The people who say this about Irish don't say this about Shakespeare.
November 23, 2025 at 2:33 PM
"It's a language nobody speaks, it's hard to understand, & I'm not interested in it".
People say this about Irish.
But this was said to me about the central role Shakespeare has in the Irish education system.
The people who say this about Irish don't say this about Shakespeare.
People say this about Irish.
But this was said to me about the central role Shakespeare has in the Irish education system.
The people who say this about Irish don't say this about Shakespeare.
A lán = an tuiseal ginideach - "Tá a lán oibre le déanamh agam"! 😭😂
Genitive case!
I knew I had a lot of work to do! 😄
Genitive case!
I knew I had a lot of work to do! 😄
Rang deireanach inniu ar an drochuair. Tá a lán obair le déanamh agam!
My last class today, unfortunately. I have a lot of work to do!
#Gaeilge #Irishlanguage
My last class today, unfortunately. I have a lot of work to do!
#Gaeilge #Irishlanguage
November 22, 2025 at 4:52 PM
A lán = an tuiseal ginideach - "Tá a lán oibre le déanamh agam"! 😭😂
Genitive case!
I knew I had a lot of work to do! 😄
Genitive case!
I knew I had a lot of work to do! 😄
Rang deireanach inniu ar an drochuair. Tá a lán obair le déanamh agam!
My last class today, unfortunately. I have a lot of work to do!
#Gaeilge #Irishlanguage
My last class today, unfortunately. I have a lot of work to do!
#Gaeilge #Irishlanguage
November 21, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Rang deireanach inniu ar an drochuair. Tá a lán obair le déanamh agam!
My last class today, unfortunately. I have a lot of work to do!
#Gaeilge #Irishlanguage
My last class today, unfortunately. I have a lot of work to do!
#Gaeilge #Irishlanguage
I was in Brussels last week and had 5 conversations in Irish with Irish speakers working there.
Language isn't just a means of communication. It's far more than that, and speaking Irish is more than just speech for many of us.
Language isn't just a means of communication. It's far more than that, and speaking Irish is more than just speech for many of us.
November 19, 2025 at 1:34 PM
I was in Brussels last week and had 5 conversations in Irish with Irish speakers working there.
Language isn't just a means of communication. It's far more than that, and speaking Irish is more than just speech for many of us.
Language isn't just a means of communication. It's far more than that, and speaking Irish is more than just speech for many of us.
November 16, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Turas go dtí an Bhruseil
Trip to Brussels 🇮🇪 🇧🇪
Bhuail mé le cúigear cainteoir Gaeilge ann, an tseachtain seo! Tá Conradh na Gaeilge, Comhaltas agus CLG suite anseo. Níos Gaelaí ná na Gaeil iad féin?!
Met 5 Irish speakers this wk - lots of Irish organisations! More Irish than the Irish themselves?!
Trip to Brussels 🇮🇪 🇧🇪
Bhuail mé le cúigear cainteoir Gaeilge ann, an tseachtain seo! Tá Conradh na Gaeilge, Comhaltas agus CLG suite anseo. Níos Gaelaí ná na Gaeil iad féin?!
Met 5 Irish speakers this wk - lots of Irish organisations! More Irish than the Irish themselves?!
November 15, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Turas go dtí an Bhruseil
Trip to Brussels 🇮🇪 🇧🇪
Bhuail mé le cúigear cainteoir Gaeilge ann, an tseachtain seo! Tá Conradh na Gaeilge, Comhaltas agus CLG suite anseo. Níos Gaelaí ná na Gaeil iad féin?!
Met 5 Irish speakers this wk - lots of Irish organisations! More Irish than the Irish themselves?!
Trip to Brussels 🇮🇪 🇧🇪
Bhuail mé le cúigear cainteoir Gaeilge ann, an tseachtain seo! Tá Conradh na Gaeilge, Comhaltas agus CLG suite anseo. Níos Gaelaí ná na Gaeil iad féin?!
Met 5 Irish speakers this wk - lots of Irish organisations! More Irish than the Irish themselves?!
Lá 4/5 sa Bhruseil 🇮🇪 🇧🇪
Bhuail mé le cúigear cainteoir Gaeilge idir inné agus inniu - go deas! Tá Conradh na Gaeilge, Comhaltas agus CLG suite anseo. Níos Gaelaí ná na Gaeil iad féin?!
Met 5 Irish speakers here in Brussels in the last two days!
❤️ #Gaeilge
Bhuail mé le cúigear cainteoir Gaeilge idir inné agus inniu - go deas! Tá Conradh na Gaeilge, Comhaltas agus CLG suite anseo. Níos Gaelaí ná na Gaeil iad féin?!
Met 5 Irish speakers here in Brussels in the last two days!
❤️ #Gaeilge
November 13, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Lá 4/5 sa Bhruseil 🇮🇪 🇧🇪
Bhuail mé le cúigear cainteoir Gaeilge idir inné agus inniu - go deas! Tá Conradh na Gaeilge, Comhaltas agus CLG suite anseo. Níos Gaelaí ná na Gaeil iad féin?!
Met 5 Irish speakers here in Brussels in the last two days!
❤️ #Gaeilge
Bhuail mé le cúigear cainteoir Gaeilge idir inné agus inniu - go deas! Tá Conradh na Gaeilge, Comhaltas agus CLG suite anseo. Níos Gaelaí ná na Gaeil iad féin?!
Met 5 Irish speakers here in Brussels in the last two days!
❤️ #Gaeilge
Ar ais sa Bheilg arís inniu agus fuair mé cainteoir Gaeilge - caintoeir dúchasach as Cléire i gContae Chorcaí, mar a tharlaíonn sé. 🇧🇪
Tá sé i gcónaí go hálainn labhairt i nGaeilge that lear.
❤️ #Gaeilge
Tá sé i gcónaí go hálainn labhairt i nGaeilge that lear.
❤️ #Gaeilge
Maidin mhaith ón Bhruiséil. Seo mo chéad uair sa Bheilg. Tá mo mhisean anseo na cainteoir Gaeilge a aimsiú, agus labhairt leo 😉
Bain sult as an lá!
🇧🇪
Bain sult as an lá!
🇧🇪
November 12, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Ar ais sa Bheilg arís inniu agus fuair mé cainteoir Gaeilge - caintoeir dúchasach as Cléire i gContae Chorcaí, mar a tharlaíonn sé. 🇧🇪
Tá sé i gcónaí go hálainn labhairt i nGaeilge that lear.
❤️ #Gaeilge
Tá sé i gcónaí go hálainn labhairt i nGaeilge that lear.
❤️ #Gaeilge
Sanasaíocht na Gaeilge.
Etymology of Irish.
Uachtarán is the Irish word for president. Many will recognise úachtar as the Irish word for cream. Both come from Old Irish "úachtar", which can mean cream or the top/upper part.
Uachtarán na hÉireann- President of Ireland
❤️ #Gaeilge
Etymology of Irish.
Uachtarán is the Irish word for president. Many will recognise úachtar as the Irish word for cream. Both come from Old Irish "úachtar", which can mean cream or the top/upper part.
Uachtarán na hÉireann- President of Ireland
❤️ #Gaeilge
November 11, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Sanasaíocht na Gaeilge.
Etymology of Irish.
Uachtarán is the Irish word for president. Many will recognise úachtar as the Irish word for cream. Both come from Old Irish "úachtar", which can mean cream or the top/upper part.
Uachtarán na hÉireann- President of Ireland
❤️ #Gaeilge
Etymology of Irish.
Uachtarán is the Irish word for president. Many will recognise úachtar as the Irish word for cream. Both come from Old Irish "úachtar", which can mean cream or the top/upper part.
Uachtarán na hÉireann- President of Ireland
❤️ #Gaeilge
"Irish is part of the solution and I would encourage all of you in most positive way to learn the Irish language. Not in any way that says you have to, quite the opposite, because it's an absolute gift to us and it's an invitation to look at the world through a different eye," she said.
The Irish language has been a central part of President Connolly's political life and of her election campaign for the presidency
President Connolly urges dignitaries to learn Irish
The Irish language has been a central part of President Connolly's political life and of her election campaign for the presidency.
www.rte.ie
November 11, 2025 at 8:18 PM
"Irish is part of the solution and I would encourage all of you in most positive way to learn the Irish language. Not in any way that says you have to, quite the opposite, because it's an absolute gift to us and it's an invitation to look at the world through a different eye," she said.
Reposted by Derek Hollingsworth
Irish will be to the fore, President Connolly says as she repeats 'working language' pledge
Irish will be to the fore, President Connolly says as she repeats 'working language' pledge
President Catherine Connolly said she had been inspired by the stories people had told her during her campaign about their struggles to get services.
www.thejournal.ie
November 11, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Irish will be to the fore, President Connolly says as she repeats 'working language' pledge
Oíche deireanach do Michael D. Higgins mar Uachtarán na hÉireann anocht. Bhí mé ag labhairt lena iar-bhearbóir ansin. Dúirt sé go nglacfadh sé a áit sa scuaine i gcónaí, agus go raibh sé béasach agus cairdiúil.
Go raibh maith agaibh Michael, Sabina agus na madraí
Go raibh maith agaibh Michael, Sabina agus na madraí
November 10, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Oíche deireanach do Michael D. Higgins mar Uachtarán na hÉireann anocht. Bhí mé ag labhairt lena iar-bhearbóir ansin. Dúirt sé go nglacfadh sé a áit sa scuaine i gcónaí, agus go raibh sé béasach agus cairdiúil.
Go raibh maith agaibh Michael, Sabina agus na madraí
Go raibh maith agaibh Michael, Sabina agus na madraí
Sanasaíocht na Gaeilge.
Etymology of Irish words.
Gráinneog - Hedgehog
Gráin - hatred/hated
Gránna - ugly
Óg - little
Gráinneog - cosúil le rud beag gránna
Hedgehog in Irish literally means "ugly/hated little thing"!
Etymology of Irish words.
Gráinneog - Hedgehog
Gráin - hatred/hated
Gránna - ugly
Óg - little
Gráinneog - cosúil le rud beag gránna
Hedgehog in Irish literally means "ugly/hated little thing"!
November 8, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Sanasaíocht na Gaeilge.
Etymology of Irish words.
Gráinneog - Hedgehog
Gráin - hatred/hated
Gránna - ugly
Óg - little
Gráinneog - cosúil le rud beag gránna
Hedgehog in Irish literally means "ugly/hated little thing"!
Etymology of Irish words.
Gráinneog - Hedgehog
Gráin - hatred/hated
Gránna - ugly
Óg - little
Gráinneog - cosúil le rud beag gránna
Hedgehog in Irish literally means "ugly/hated little thing"!
73,000 exemptions from Irish? Nuts. That's exclusion.
I'm not surprised. I was on a webinar with a school who encouraged parents to seek exemptions from Irish, but for their children to continue with Italian! "Irish educators against Irish"?
www.thejournal.ie/criticism-an...
I'm not surprised. I was on a webinar with a school who encouraged parents to seek exemptions from Irish, but for their children to continue with Italian! "Irish educators against Irish"?
www.thejournal.ie/criticism-an...
Lack of specific targets criticised as policies to support Irish outside Gaeltacht launched
The Department of Education and Youth has been accused of a lack of ambition over the lack of specific targets for enrolment in Irish medium education in its new plan.
www.thejournal.ie
November 8, 2025 at 2:10 PM
73,000 exemptions from Irish? Nuts. That's exclusion.
I'm not surprised. I was on a webinar with a school who encouraged parents to seek exemptions from Irish, but for their children to continue with Italian! "Irish educators against Irish"?
www.thejournal.ie/criticism-an...
I'm not surprised. I was on a webinar with a school who encouraged parents to seek exemptions from Irish, but for their children to continue with Italian! "Irish educators against Irish"?
www.thejournal.ie/criticism-an...
Visitors to Dublin, we are not Generica!
You'll still find bits of authentic culture among the commercialised blandness & tat.
There's history, trad & all kinds of music, literature, architecture, Irish language events, crafts, arts, story tellers & craic.
#LoveDublin #DiscoverIreland #Dublin
You'll still find bits of authentic culture among the commercialised blandness & tat.
There's history, trad & all kinds of music, literature, architecture, Irish language events, crafts, arts, story tellers & craic.
#LoveDublin #DiscoverIreland #Dublin
November 7, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Visitors to Dublin, we are not Generica!
You'll still find bits of authentic culture among the commercialised blandness & tat.
There's history, trad & all kinds of music, literature, architecture, Irish language events, crafts, arts, story tellers & craic.
#LoveDublin #DiscoverIreland #Dublin
You'll still find bits of authentic culture among the commercialised blandness & tat.
There's history, trad & all kinds of music, literature, architecture, Irish language events, crafts, arts, story tellers & craic.
#LoveDublin #DiscoverIreland #Dublin
A chairde, that other place is so toxic! It's easy to slip into arguments, criticism, & insults there because everyone is at it!
Not good for mental health & not conducive to any kind of respectful debate or discourse.
Was not always the way. I'm online since 2020, and it wasn't like that then.
Not good for mental health & not conducive to any kind of respectful debate or discourse.
Was not always the way. I'm online since 2020, and it wasn't like that then.
November 7, 2025 at 11:33 AM
A chairde, that other place is so toxic! It's easy to slip into arguments, criticism, & insults there because everyone is at it!
Not good for mental health & not conducive to any kind of respectful debate or discourse.
Was not always the way. I'm online since 2020, and it wasn't like that then.
Not good for mental health & not conducive to any kind of respectful debate or discourse.
Was not always the way. I'm online since 2020, and it wasn't like that then.
Reposted by Derek Hollingsworth
A new policy and a plan to strengthen the teaching, learning and use of Irish language in schools is due to be launched
Plan to enhance Irish learning in schools to be announced
A new policy and a plan to strengthen the teaching, learning and use of Irish language in schools is due to be launched.
www.rte.ie
November 6, 2025 at 6:59 AM
A new policy and a plan to strengthen the teaching, learning and use of Irish language in schools is due to be launched
Irish people are embracing the language, the music, the heritage etc. from a place of deficit forced on them by colonialism. They are reclaiming what's theirs, which is healthy & shows a maturing society, distancing itself from colonial attitudes towards native culture.
November 6, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Irish people are embracing the language, the music, the heritage etc. from a place of deficit forced on them by colonialism. They are reclaiming what's theirs, which is healthy & shows a maturing society, distancing itself from colonial attitudes towards native culture.
Maidin mhaith ón Bhruiséil. Seo mo chéad uair sa Bheilg. Tá mo mhisean anseo na cainteoir Gaeilge a aimsiú, agus labhairt leo 😉
Bain sult as an lá!
🇧🇪
Bain sult as an lá!
🇧🇪
November 3, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Maidin mhaith ón Bhruiséil. Seo mo chéad uair sa Bheilg. Tá mo mhisean anseo na cainteoir Gaeilge a aimsiú, agus labhairt leo 😉
Bain sult as an lá!
🇧🇪
Bain sult as an lá!
🇧🇪
It's worth remembering that Michael D. Higgins had to deal with a lot of resistance when he was establishing Teilifís na Gaeilge (now TG4).
Have we finally begun decolonising the Irish psyche?
TG4: the saviour of a language
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/colu...
Have we finally begun decolonising the Irish psyche?
TG4: the saviour of a language
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/colu...
TG4: the saviour of a language
IN between all the empty debate and petty disputes and rows and static and scandal and point-scoring and personality disputes and constituency infighting, you get rare reminders politics can stil...
www.irishexaminer.com
November 3, 2025 at 5:25 AM
It's worth remembering that Michael D. Higgins had to deal with a lot of resistance when he was establishing Teilifís na Gaeilge (now TG4).
Have we finally begun decolonising the Irish psyche?
TG4: the saviour of a language
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/colu...
Have we finally begun decolonising the Irish psyche?
TG4: the saviour of a language
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/colu...
Manchán Magan's ashes were being scattered at Uisneach today on Samhain. How totally apt.
For someone who often spoke of liminal places & thresholds, he was so inspiring for so many people who engaged with Gaeilge, the landscape, Irish culture & heritage because of him.
Pic TG4 #Manchán
For someone who often spoke of liminal places & thresholds, he was so inspiring for so many people who engaged with Gaeilge, the landscape, Irish culture & heritage because of him.
Pic TG4 #Manchán
November 1, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Manchán Magan's ashes were being scattered at Uisneach today on Samhain. How totally apt.
For someone who often spoke of liminal places & thresholds, he was so inspiring for so many people who engaged with Gaeilge, the landscape, Irish culture & heritage because of him.
Pic TG4 #Manchán
For someone who often spoke of liminal places & thresholds, he was so inspiring for so many people who engaged with Gaeilge, the landscape, Irish culture & heritage because of him.
Pic TG4 #Manchán
When I translated Bean Sí (woman of the fairy mound/fairy woman) for an English friend, they asked why such a terrifying image is associated with her.
I had to explain that Irish fairies don't have pointy ears and wings. They'll f**k you up if you mess with them!
#Halloween
I had to explain that Irish fairies don't have pointy ears and wings. They'll f**k you up if you mess with them!
#Halloween
October 31, 2025 at 6:39 PM
When I translated Bean Sí (woman of the fairy mound/fairy woman) for an English friend, they asked why such a terrifying image is associated with her.
I had to explain that Irish fairies don't have pointy ears and wings. They'll f**k you up if you mess with them!
#Halloween
I had to explain that Irish fairies don't have pointy ears and wings. They'll f**k you up if you mess with them!
#Halloween
Reposted by Derek Hollingsworth
Focail i mBéarla atá Gaelach ó dhúcas:
Banshee, a forboding female spirit, borrowed into English in 1600s. Originally 'Bean Sí', 'woman of the fairies'.
Oíche Shamhna (Halloween) is a festival originating in Gaelic Ireland & Scotland.
🎃 came later!
Oíche Shamhna shona duit!
Happy Halloween to you!
Banshee, a forboding female spirit, borrowed into English in 1600s. Originally 'Bean Sí', 'woman of the fairies'.
Oíche Shamhna (Halloween) is a festival originating in Gaelic Ireland & Scotland.
🎃 came later!
Oíche Shamhna shona duit!
Happy Halloween to you!
October 30, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Focail i mBéarla atá Gaelach ó dhúcas:
Banshee, a forboding female spirit, borrowed into English in 1600s. Originally 'Bean Sí', 'woman of the fairies'.
Oíche Shamhna (Halloween) is a festival originating in Gaelic Ireland & Scotland.
🎃 came later!
Oíche Shamhna shona duit!
Happy Halloween to you!
Banshee, a forboding female spirit, borrowed into English in 1600s. Originally 'Bean Sí', 'woman of the fairies'.
Oíche Shamhna (Halloween) is a festival originating in Gaelic Ireland & Scotland.
🎃 came later!
Oíche Shamhna shona duit!
Happy Halloween to you!
Focail i mBéarla atá Gaelach ó dhúcas:
Banshee, a forboding female spirit, borrowed into English in 1600s. Originally 'Bean Sí', 'woman of the fairies'.
Oíche Shamhna (Halloween) is a festival originating in Gaelic Ireland & Scotland.
🎃 came later!
Oíche Shamhna shona duit!
Happy Halloween to you!
Banshee, a forboding female spirit, borrowed into English in 1600s. Originally 'Bean Sí', 'woman of the fairies'.
Oíche Shamhna (Halloween) is a festival originating in Gaelic Ireland & Scotland.
🎃 came later!
Oíche Shamhna shona duit!
Happy Halloween to you!
October 30, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Focail i mBéarla atá Gaelach ó dhúcas:
Banshee, a forboding female spirit, borrowed into English in 1600s. Originally 'Bean Sí', 'woman of the fairies'.
Oíche Shamhna (Halloween) is a festival originating in Gaelic Ireland & Scotland.
🎃 came later!
Oíche Shamhna shona duit!
Happy Halloween to you!
Banshee, a forboding female spirit, borrowed into English in 1600s. Originally 'Bean Sí', 'woman of the fairies'.
Oíche Shamhna (Halloween) is a festival originating in Gaelic Ireland & Scotland.
🎃 came later!
Oíche Shamhna shona duit!
Happy Halloween to you!
There's no need for anyone to feel shame or embarrassment about not speaking Irish.
Past traumas: colonialism, "famine", poverty; & an education system that taught Irish as a subject, are valid.
But if we see every word of Irish we have as liberating, then any bit we possess be healing and hopeful
Past traumas: colonialism, "famine", poverty; & an education system that taught Irish as a subject, are valid.
But if we see every word of Irish we have as liberating, then any bit we possess be healing and hopeful
October 29, 2025 at 10:30 AM
There's no need for anyone to feel shame or embarrassment about not speaking Irish.
Past traumas: colonialism, "famine", poverty; & an education system that taught Irish as a subject, are valid.
But if we see every word of Irish we have as liberating, then any bit we possess be healing and hopeful
Past traumas: colonialism, "famine", poverty; & an education system that taught Irish as a subject, are valid.
But if we see every word of Irish we have as liberating, then any bit we possess be healing and hopeful