Irish Audio Request

Dia dhuit. Jack Foley is ainm dom. Ba mhaith liom fáilte romhaibh chuig mo ghairdín anseo i San Diego. Ach sula labhróidh mé faoina plandaí agus crainn, ba mhaith liom rud éigin a insint dhaoibh fúm féin.
Is Éireannach mé. Rugadh m'athair agus mo mháthair i gContae Chiarraí in Éirinn. Rugadh mé i Chicago ar an Taobh ó Dheas den chathair, ach anois tá cónaí orm i San Diego.
Tá mo bheanchéile go hálainn, Lalchumi, agus tá triúr clainne orainn.
Táim an-sásta lenár ghairdín. Tá go leor plandaí agus crainn éagsúla againn. Tá an crann líomóidí anseo.[the lemon tree is here]
Tá an gheimhridh ceart anois. (??) Tá sé te ach tá an spéir gorm agus scamallach.
Anois, ar ais i Chicago tá sé an-an-fhuar. Tá a lán de oighir agus sneachta ann. Ní fhaca mé sneachta i San Diego.
Tá crainn pailme anseo atá an-an-mhór. Tá sé seo ar cheann an-ard. [this one...]
Ádh mór oraibh go léir, agus go raibh maith agaibh a lucht féachana.

This is probably now to late for your purpose. It's been a while since I logged in. I made a few changes, specifically to make it plural throughout. - Bríd Eilís

Dear Bríd,

[OOPS -- I couldn’t post my first reply to you so I am going to have to split it up into sections. -- Sorry for the inconvenience.]

Thanks a million. Thanks so much for your kindness and generosity in doing this. Since I originally put this on the website I have been trying to find as much time as possible from my schedule to study Irish but it is a difficult task. It would be easier if I could focus on it every single day, but this is almost impossible. I have been studying it for months and I sill feel like I don’t know as much as a three year old.

I have been taking a class once a week in Irish, but I feel frustrated because it is all from the book with no conversation. I speak fluent Spanish [lived in Mexico for years] and I know that at some point you have to jump out of your comfort zone and just begin talking. Talk and talk and make a million mistakes.
[End of Part 1]

Unfortunately there are no real Irish speakers here that I can link up with. I have thought about trying how to figure out how to connect with someone via Skype so I could talk with someone through my laptop. Maybe do an exchange talking in Irish with and I could teach the other person Spanish. I have never used Skype but I figure there is always a first time, right!

However I don’t mind all the difficulties. I really enjoy what I have been learning about the Irish language. Especially in getting a window into Irish civilization and the deep recesses of history from where all our people come. I never cease to be amazed at the wonderful things I keep on discovering not just about the language per se [grammar, syntax, etc.] but how many unique ways of looking at the world there are when you start understanding a bit of Gaelige.
[End of Part 2]

I think often of my dear father [God rest his soul] who grew up in Kerry and didn’t know any English until he was about six years old. Before that time all he spoke was Irish. My wife and I looked after him before he died. It was really nice, in the year or so before he died, he’d wake up in the morning and started speaking a blue streak of Irish. I wound up going out and buying a dictionary and phrase book to see if I could understand at least a little of what he was saying.

Anyway it is a great gift that you gave me here. I am going to copy the sound file and practice it. If there is anything I could offer you in turn please feel free to ask.

Go raibh maith agat!

Jack Foley

Hi Bríd, if you would like to write to me via my regular email address please do so at rehomes@cox.net Thanks. -- Jack

You are very welcome Jack.

A few suggestions.

You can get Raidió na Gaeltachta online. I know you won't be able to understand it but just listening to it will get the sounds of Irish into your head. Listen especially to "An Saol ó Dheas" for Munster Irish.

Also there Irish television online "TG4".

A great forum for questions about Irish grammar or anything to do with Irish is "Irish Learners' Forum". I am a member there too.
I hope Rhinospike don't mind me mentioning another site that gives pronunciations, that's "Forvo". Yeah I'm there too. I know somebody that gives paid lessons on Skype. And a few people that would chat for free. Email me directly, I think you will find it in my profile.

Bríd Eilís

Only now just noticed you gave me your email address. I'll contact you.