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All of Ireland’s great cultural outpourings of this era came from the countryside, from the houses of Gaelic rulers in the
depths of the wooded countryside or from quiet monasteries by tranquil rivers.
In Dublin in 1541, the feudalistic law of England was to be substituted for the Irish Brehon Law. Following this blow the
youth of Irish nobility were “brought to court” some against their will -to be educated through the English language. Thus
began the de-Irelandising of Ireland. Returning sons of Irish chieftains had been instilled with such distain for all things
Irish that they are known to have destroyed precious manuscripts. Nonetheless, on the continent, other nobles fortunate
to receive an education found themselves among Irish speaking students – at Douai, or Louvain or Salamanca.
As Ireland was writhing from the turbulence that led to the Flight of the Earls in 1607, Europe was repaying something
of what Ireland had done for it 1,000 years before. The colleges founded by Irish men numbered 25 scattered enclaves on
the European Continent. From the college of Louvain in France came Brother Michael ‘O Cleary who would walk Ireland
for fifteen years – from convent to convent and scholar to scholar gathering together the material we now know as The
Annals of the Four Masters – the famous chronicle of the fortunes of Ireland .
Douglas Hyde's (Ireland's first president!) passionate manifesto “On the necessity for de-Anglicising the Irish nation” of
1892, served as a catalyst at the turn of the last century
Today, the Irish language is on a precipice. The Irish language television channel TG4 and radio stations provide support
and visibility to Ireland’s cultural voice. However, the reality within the Gaeltacht areas is that of continuing rural decline,
with attendant emigration and the influence of the English language. Languages are dying all over the world, casualties of
economic pressures, no less than in Ireland. Nonetheless, outside the Gaeltacht, the growing numbers of Gaelscoileanna
suggest that hope is in the air – there is a definite demand for the language. Parents recognize the benefits.
A radicle shift in policy and perspective upon the Irish language is required for its full blossoming and renaissance. Every
Irish person has studied the language at school but now it has to be encouraged out of the school room and become an
integral part of daily life.
ExpDeOrNie’TnJcUSeTtHheIRwGEithrAeBeInKEw...ay! As a visitor you can play your part
in the life of the Irish language.
AWARD GREENWAY-WINNING
Every word counts!
EX&OBRIEGISNTAL
Ba mhaith liom ( Bah wah lum) -
PERIE NCE “I would like”
Experience the Great Western Greenway from Westport to Bia (bee-ya) – “Food”
Achill Island with the original and most professional bike hire Deoch (Dyuck) - “Drink”
provider in Ireland. Clew Bay Bike Hire have 5 locations along the Le do thoil (leh duh hull) - “Please”
Greenway – Westport, Westport Quay, Newport, Mulranny and Go raibh maith agat (gu rav mah agut) -
Achill Sound – each with free parking as well as immediate access “Thank you” / (literally - “good on you”)
to the Greenway. We also provide a free shuttle service (with full
day bike hire) that allows you to cycle as much or as little as you In Irish you can use the words Dia Dhuit
(Dee-Ya Guit) – “God be with you”.
wish as well as free roadside assistance to all our cyclists.
To take your leave you can use the simple
Call (098) 24818 Email:info@clewbaybikehire.ie word Slán leat (Slawn lat) -
Web: www.clewbaybikehire.ie “May you go safely on”.
To learn the Irish language you can join
the free online classes of the worldwide
Philo-Celtic Society, www.duolingo.com,
www.iorarua.com and www.beo.ie, just
some of the possibilities. Look out for an
Irish conversation circle near you!
Ad 88mm x 130mm.indd 1 212
04/02/2015 19:07
depths of the wooded countryside or from quiet monasteries by tranquil rivers.
In Dublin in 1541, the feudalistic law of England was to be substituted for the Irish Brehon Law. Following this blow the
youth of Irish nobility were “brought to court” some against their will -to be educated through the English language. Thus
began the de-Irelandising of Ireland. Returning sons of Irish chieftains had been instilled with such distain for all things
Irish that they are known to have destroyed precious manuscripts. Nonetheless, on the continent, other nobles fortunate
to receive an education found themselves among Irish speaking students – at Douai, or Louvain or Salamanca.
As Ireland was writhing from the turbulence that led to the Flight of the Earls in 1607, Europe was repaying something
of what Ireland had done for it 1,000 years before. The colleges founded by Irish men numbered 25 scattered enclaves on
the European Continent. From the college of Louvain in France came Brother Michael ‘O Cleary who would walk Ireland
for fifteen years – from convent to convent and scholar to scholar gathering together the material we now know as The
Annals of the Four Masters – the famous chronicle of the fortunes of Ireland .
Douglas Hyde's (Ireland's first president!) passionate manifesto “On the necessity for de-Anglicising the Irish nation” of
1892, served as a catalyst at the turn of the last century
Today, the Irish language is on a precipice. The Irish language television channel TG4 and radio stations provide support
and visibility to Ireland’s cultural voice. However, the reality within the Gaeltacht areas is that of continuing rural decline,
with attendant emigration and the influence of the English language. Languages are dying all over the world, casualties of
economic pressures, no less than in Ireland. Nonetheless, outside the Gaeltacht, the growing numbers of Gaelscoileanna
suggest that hope is in the air – there is a definite demand for the language. Parents recognize the benefits.
A radicle shift in policy and perspective upon the Irish language is required for its full blossoming and renaissance. Every
Irish person has studied the language at school but now it has to be encouraged out of the school room and become an
integral part of daily life.
ExpDeOrNie’TnJcUSeTtHheIRwGEithrAeBeInKEw...ay! As a visitor you can play your part
in the life of the Irish language.
AWARD GREENWAY-WINNING
Every word counts!
EX&OBRIEGISNTAL
Ba mhaith liom ( Bah wah lum) -
PERIE NCE “I would like”
Experience the Great Western Greenway from Westport to Bia (bee-ya) – “Food”
Achill Island with the original and most professional bike hire Deoch (Dyuck) - “Drink”
provider in Ireland. Clew Bay Bike Hire have 5 locations along the Le do thoil (leh duh hull) - “Please”
Greenway – Westport, Westport Quay, Newport, Mulranny and Go raibh maith agat (gu rav mah agut) -
Achill Sound – each with free parking as well as immediate access “Thank you” / (literally - “good on you”)
to the Greenway. We also provide a free shuttle service (with full
day bike hire) that allows you to cycle as much or as little as you In Irish you can use the words Dia Dhuit
(Dee-Ya Guit) – “God be with you”.
wish as well as free roadside assistance to all our cyclists.
To take your leave you can use the simple
Call (098) 24818 Email:info@clewbaybikehire.ie word Slán leat (Slawn lat) -
Web: www.clewbaybikehire.ie “May you go safely on”.
To learn the Irish language you can join
the free online classes of the worldwide
Philo-Celtic Society, www.duolingo.com,
www.iorarua.com and www.beo.ie, just
some of the possibilities. Look out for an
Irish conversation circle near you!
Ad 88mm x 130mm.indd 1 212
04/02/2015 19:07
