Language, Culture and Traditions of Ireland 

Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge,
Carna, Co. na Gaillimhe.

Aims and Objectives:

• To give students a comprehensive insight and understanding of the Irish language, its rich musical and cultural heritage and folk studies.
• To give students an in-depth appreciation of Gaeltacht culture, as well as a context for the language, its people and its heritage.
• To give a basic knowledge and understanding of Irish to students who have no (or little) previous knowledge of the language. Students will achieve a basic aptitude in conversational Irish in a friendly, collaborative atmosphere.
• To share an understanding of those traditional arts and culture native to Irish-speaking communities (Gaeltachtaí), including folklore, sean-nós (’old style’) singing and dancing and traditional Irish music. Students will experience and participate in traditional cultural activities, performances and field trips to cultural-historical sites

Course Outline: 
 

The course will consist of two subjects: Irish Language for Beginners and Traditional Arts and Culture.

Irish Language / History of the Irish language:

The subject will focus on:

• Listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.
• Expanding vocabulary using texts, audiovisual and digital supplemental material.
• Informing participants of the resources available to learners at this level.
• The History of the Irish language and the Gaeltacht.
• Current issues pertaining to the Irish Language and the Gaeltacht.
• Irish language literature.
• Place Names.

Traditional Arts and Culture:

The subject will focus on:

• Folk life: Folklife involves the traditional occupations, crafts and gatherings of the people. Traditional turf cutting, farming, boating, seaweed gathering, wickerwork and fair days are still practised in the Carna area.
• Folklore: Storytelling, oral tradition, rituals. The traditional Irish language storytelling tradition was particularly strong in Carna, and indeed the acclaimed Irish folklorist Seán Ó Súilleabháin once stated "There are more folktales to be gathered in the parish of Carna than there are in the rest of Western Europe!"
• Sean-nós singing and dancing: The traditional performance style of singing or dancing still vibrant in the Gaeltacht. Sean-nós singing, a fascinating ancient form of highly ornamented unaccompanied song, is still strong in the Carna area; as is sean-nós dancing, a traditional form of improvised ’low to the ground’ footwork.
• Traditional Irish music: Ireland is renowned for its unique traditional music (’Ceol Gaelach’, literally ’Gaelic Music’) and this aspect of the course will offer participants an opportunity to learn about its dynamics and experience the music through attending sessions with local musicians.
• The Connemara Landscape: Exploring the Connemara landscape from literary, cultural and historical perspectives. Place and folklore are closely interwoven; any significant part of the landscape seems to have a legend or historical event attached to it, and this makes the environment ’come alive’ to those in the know. Students will have the unique opportunity to experience the landscape firsthand, while learning of it’s importance in traditional communities and folklore.

ECTS / Credits:  

6 US Semester Credits. 

Entry Requirements:

Applications are welcomed from adults interested in Irish language, culture, folk studies and traditional arts. The course will merit six semester-hour credits for students who have successfully completed Freshman Year or further studies at University.

Assessment: 
 

’Irish for Beginners’ will be assessed through continuous assessment, oral and written examinations. Traditional Arts and Culture will be assessed through continuous assessment and written examinations.

Course Fee:  

€900

Accommodation:

Full board (which includes full Irish breakfast, lunch, and a 3 course dinner every day) accomodation is arranged in modern private houses with Irish-speaking families. This provides a golden opportunity of experiencing the Irish language in a native and natural environment, whilst also allowing students to benefit from the great depth of knowledge local Irish speakers have of both of their community and their language.

• Full board, Single room: €950.
• Full board, Sharing: €700.

Further Information / Application:

In the US contact Helen Maginn
Institute of Irish Studies, Fordham University, 310 Dealy Hall, Bronx, NY 10458
+1 201 9945932
Email: helenmaginngmail.com    

In Carna Séamas Ó Concheanainn, Administrator
Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim, Carna, Connemara, Co. Galway
+353 95 32834
Email: seamas.oconcheanainnoegaillimh.ie