Irish Classes
Course
Date
Teacher
Cost
Irish Classes
Dates
Course
Teacher
Cost
Coláiste Gaeilge Inis Meáin
“Gaeilge Inis Meáin” is located on the middle island of the three Aran Islands. The language is preserved here on the breathtaking landscape in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. There is no doubt of a warm welcome when you visit Inis Meáin. It remains unaffected by tourism and you will have a chance to meet with locals and experience true island life. Out here the language is not considered a classroom subject but instead is a way of life, immersed in island hobbies and culture . With limited space on our Irish Courses, only a small group get to experience the best of both worlds.
Follow in the footsteps of Pádraig Mac Piarais, W. B. Yeats, J.M Synge, Eoin Mac Néill, Dubhghlás De Híde Lady Gregory, Éamon De Valera, Éamon Ó Cuív and many others, all of which came to Inis Meáin to improve their Irish.
-
Why do FAQs matter?FAQs are a great way to help site visitors find quick answers to common questions about your business and create a better navigation experience.
-
What is an FAQ section?An FAQ section can be used to quickly answer common questions about your business like "Where do you ship to?", "What are your opening hours?", or "How can I book a service?".
-
Where can I add my FAQs?FAQs can be added to any page on your site or to your Wix mobile app, giving access to members on the go.
-
How do I add a new question & answer?To add a new FAQ follow these steps: 1. Manage FAQs from your site dashboard or in the Editor 2. Add a new question & answer 3. Assign your FAQ to a category 4. Save and publish. You can always come back and edit your FAQs.
-
How do I edit or remove the 'Frequently Asked Questions' title?You can edit the title from the FAQ 'Settings' tab in the Editor. To remove the title from your mobile app go to the 'Site & App' tab in your Owner's app and customize.
-
Can I insert an image, video, or GIF in my FAQ?Yes. To add media follow these steps: 1. Manage FAQs from your site dashboard or in the Editor 2. Create a new FAQ or edit an existing one 3. From the answer text box click on the video, image or GIF icon 4. Add media from your library and save.
-
What can I expect to do on an Irish Course?All of our Elementary and Intermediate level Irish courses are 5 day long courses. They consist of 3 hours of classes each day and there are also some afternoon and evening activities. You can view a sample timetable here. We recommend you bring comfortable walking shoes and a light rain coat as some of the activities will take place outdoors. Our Cruinneas na Gaeilge courses take place over a weekend with a few sessions in the classroom along with a range of activities. You can view a sample timetable here.
-
What accommodation is available on the island?Accommodation is not included in the booking of an Irish Course with us an will need to sort accommodation for yourself. A list of accommodation that is available on the island can be found here. For our 5 day long courses the timetable of the course is set up to always allow people to travel to the island the morning of the first day and travel home in the afternoon of the last day. This means you can attend the full course with only 4 nights accommodation on the island if you wish to do so. For our weekend courses, you will need to arrive on the island Friday evening and stay until Monday morning before leaving to attend all the classes/activities. The accommodation available on the island is located in or around the village and is within walking distance of the key areas of the island.
-
Are there any scholarships available to attend Irish Courses?Yes, there are many scholarships offered for adult learners through different schemes and in many of them we are recognised as an eligible course for the use of the scholarship! Some notable organisations which offer scholarships are Glór na nGael, Gael Linn, Gaeilge ABC and An Bruach Thoir.
-
Is the course suitable for teenagers?We have had students preparing for their leaving certificate attend our courses in the past and they have enjoyed them and found them useful in terms of comprehension and confidence levels. We believe the course can be worthwhile for teenagers aged 16 and above, however under 18s must be accompanied by an adult at all times on the course.
-
What dining options are available on the island?Pub food is available in the Teach Ósta from 12:00 - 15:00 and 18:00 - 20:00. Tea/coffee is available at Caifé Synge which is open from 10:00 - 16:00. Essential groceries are available at Siopa Ruaidhrí Beag which is open from 10:30 – 13:00, 14:00 – 17:00 Monday to Saturday, 12:00 – 14:00 on Sunday. It is worth checking in with your accommodation providers about other meal arrangements. We strongly recommend anyone with special dietary requirements to inquire/plan ahead as the limited options for food on the island can be difficult to cope with if you are not prepared beforehand.
-
What level course is best suited for me?We currently offer 3 levels of courses: Bunrang (beginner class), Meánrang (intermediate class) and Cruinneas na Gaeilge (language accuracy). Bunrang: This course is suitable for the learner who has very little knowledge on the language, for example someone who has not studied the language in an Irish primary school or someone who knows a few words but would not be comfortable putting together sentences yet. This course will focus on learning common everyday phrases, expanding vocabulary and speaking practices. Meánrang: This course is suitable for the learner who has a reasonably good grasp of the language (someone who can hold a basic conversation, but might be lacking confidence in using the language, or someone who used to have a good knowledge of the language but has since forgotten a lot of what they knew). This course will focus on communication practices, listening practices and on accurate speaking. Cruinneas na Gaeilge: This course is suitable for those who are fluent or have an advanced level of the language. This course focuses on Gaeltacht Irish, with a special focus on Inis Meáin Irish. Learning about the culture and traditions of Inis Meáin will be a central part of this course as well as meeting and connecting with the local community.
-
What modes of transport are there to the island?Ferry The Inis Meáin/Inis Oírr Ferry leaves Rossaveel every day at 10:30 and 18:30 (18:00 in the winter months) and reaches Inis Meáin around 50 minutes later. It leaves Inis Meáin for Rossaveel every day at 08:10 (8:55 on Sundays) and 16:40. Tickets can be reserved here, or bought at the office in Rossaveel or Galway. Tickets can also be purchased to enable you to bring a bike on the boat. You can bring a bike on-board. A bus operates from Galway to meet the ferry. There is parking available at Ros a’Mhíl at the port, which is charged per day. Office – 091 568903 There are ferries travelling from Doolin also which can be booked here. Their timetable may vary. Office – 065 7075555 Air travel Aer Arann fly to Inis Meáin every day at 09:00, 10:30, and 16:30, returning from Inis Meáin at 09:15, 10:45 and 16:45. The flight lasts around 8 minutes, and parking at Aerfort Chonamara is free of charge. Aerfort Chonamara is here. Bicycles cannot be taken on the plane. Tickets can be purchased here. Aer Arann also operate a minibus service from Galway before each flight. Aer Árann – 091 593034
"The content was relevant to our everyday life while on the Island"
"The course has given me much more confidence!"
"The content and connection to the language and the island will stay with me. Also meeting locals and listening to them speak"
Our Teachers
Aedín Ní Thiarnaigh
Aedín Ní Thiarnaigh is an Irish writer, translator and broadcaster who has lived in Inis Meáin for several years. She has an undergraduate degree in Irish and Journalism (University of Limerick), along with a masters in Irish Folklore and Ethnology (University College, Dublin), and a Postgraduate Certificate in Translation Studies (University of Galway). Aedín is teaching with Gaeilge Inis Meáin from 2022.
Emmet de Barra
Emmet de Barra is from Dublin, and has a degree in Irish and History from Trinity College. Currently, he is undertaking a PhD in Classical (medieval) Irish at Trinity College, and is very interested in the history and culture of the Gael from the beginning of time to the present day. He has years of experience teaching classes for adults with Conradh na Gaeilge, his classes focus on the understanding of grammar and the structure of the language together with the accuracy of written Irish.
Maureen Ní Choinceanainn
Maureen is a native of the island and also a native Irish speaker. Along with her degree, she earned a Diploma in Irish from the University of Galway. She plays a central role in many language events on the island throughout the year. She has a particular interest in music and the arts.
Aoife Ní Fhátharta
Aoife is currently living in Prague, Czech Republic. Her family is originally from Inis Meáin and she spends every summer on the island. Aoife is qualified as a lawyer and in 2008 she did a preparatory course in legal linguistics at King's Inn. She also completed an MA in Applied Irish. She worked as a Legal Linguist with the European Commission in Brussels and later as a human rights lawyer with the United Nations in Switzerland. Aoife has a lot of experience teaching Irish to adults (both intermediate and accuracy) in Dublin with Gaelchultúr and Conradh na Gaeilge and around the world.