"I realised a long time ago that when people go to learn a language or relearn a language, they're often held back by their own mental baggage around their previous efforts. An Scoil Scairte is so much more than words, vocabulary and grammar, it is a profound look at the vibrant work being done in the Irish language by creatives."
- Manchán Magan, RTÉ
Read More"We designed a course in Irish that wasn’t death by an tuiseal ginideach. We wanted to unblock the trauma of how most of us were taught Irish, and to find a way to teach it which was joyous, craic, fun, with conversation and connection, and in a way that brought the body in and grounded the language."
- Kathy Scott, The Sunday Independent
Read More"The language is emerging in all sorts of unexpected places. It’s in the success of the online Irish language course, Scoil Scairte. This is the year those of us who once followed the sparsely spread pop culture breadcrumbs, realised we had come upon a feast. The language, and Irish traditions more generally, are being liberated, diversified, owned, shared, and celebrated without strictness. There are no demands for fluency, rules or doctrine. It’s all a stimulating, giddy, chaotic, unpredictable remix. This is a new old thing. And it’s alive."
- Una Mullally, The Irish Times
Read More"Scoil Scairte (Hedge School - a reference to informal Irish education throughout colonial history), a new course for adults curious about rediscovering the language aims to address all the well-worn criticisms, by presenting the language in action, not as an abstract or something to be endured, but in the current cultural context."
- Mike McGrath Bryan, The Irish Examiner
Read More“A pandemic outcome has been the online school called Scoil Scairte. It takes place once a week during the fall and winter. It's based around promoting Irish cultural heritage and language with spoken sessions, music, singing and poetry. People sign in from all over the world and it can be quite moving seeing everyone singing along, or trying to get to grips with Irish words and grammar. It’s a good way to get to know about Irish culture and craic while planning your next trip to Ireland.”
- Yvonne Gordon, Frommer’s Guide
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