Would you like to challenge yourself to have an extra cúpla focal by the end of May?
Yes? Then why not take on the Focal A Day challenge for ‘Be The Arrow’ – simply sign up for free and you’re included!
We have teamed up with Áine Ní Gallachóir from Dublin who is a passionate advocate for the Irish language and one of the most creative cultural voices of her generation. A Gaisce Gold Award recipient, Áine is a Be The Arrow champion and will teach the nation ‘Focal A Day’ during May.
Aine says, “Every day in May, I will give someone a focal. Here are your week one words and phrases. By using them in your daily life, you are already improving. Follow Gasice on social to see my guerrilla methods and finding new ways to speak Irish in everyday places!”
Áine Gallagher, Guerrilla Gaeilge Activist and “queen of offbeat”, is planning a number of techniques to surprise the Irish out of people for the “Be The Arrow” Gaisce campaign. Armed with her ‘cup of focals’ (a cup brimming with Irish words), Gallagher will hit the streets and use various methods to shock people into using their cúpla focal.
The way Áine sees it, Guerrilla Gaeilge is crucial to tackle the problem that so many people want to speak Irish, however they don’t. The way she describes it, “people are often too scared, think they won’t be good enough or think they will embarrass themselves. Unfortunately, these barriers, coupled with a lack of opportunities in everyday life, make it really difficult for people to give speaking Irish a go.”
“I want to take away the obstacles by jumping out from behind trees, pretending I work in places and sneaking in the focals or bringing my giant cup of focals out on the streets with me.”
For the “Be The Arrow” campaign, Áine is on a mission to give someone a focal every day in May and make Irish a normal part of our everyday lives.
Week One Focail
Ar mhaith leat focal?
Would you like a focal?
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Ba mhaith liom cupán caifé, le d’thóil
I’d like a cup of coffee please
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An féidir liom spúnog a fháil, le d’thóil?
Can I have a spoon please.
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Ar mhaith leat Custard Cream?
- Ba mhaith liom Custard Cream
- Ní mhaith liom Custard Cream
Would you like a Custard Cream?
- Yes
- No
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Taitníonn cáca milís go mór liom
I really like cake.
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Tá focal i mo cháca
There’s a word in my cake
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An dtogann tú siúcra?
- Togann mé
- Ní thogann mé
Do you take sugar?
- Yes
- No
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An dtagann tú anseo go minic?
- Tagann mé
- Ní thagann mé
Do you come here often?
- Yes
- No
Week 2 Focail
First watch Aine’s video.
Phrases and vocab (na foclóir)
Ar mhaith leat Custard Cream?
- Ba mhaith liom Custard Cream
- Ní mhaith liom Custard Cream
Would you like a Custard Cream?
- Yes
- No
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An maith leat Custard Creams?
- Is maith liom Custard Creams
- Ní mhaith liom Custard Creams
Do you like Custard Creams?
- Yes
- No
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Tá fearg uirthí
She’s angry
Rachaidh mé an slí eile
I’ll go the other way
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Cairde nua
New friends
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Cheannaigh mé íad
I bought them
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Tá siad comh blásta
They’re so tasty