Introduction

This post discusses the aim of the site

Go mbeannaí Dia dhaoibh agus fáilte romhaibh go léir. Greetings and welcome!

The purpose of this site is to spread knowledge about the Irish language. There are lots of aspects of it that many people might be curious about, and that are integral to the language, but that aren’t explained well in schools, if they’re explained at all. That is the purpose of this site — to explain those rules, as well as other basic rules about the language in as clear a way as possible.

Furthermore, there will also be postings of texts from the South Connemara dialect area, which is mainly known as the area west of Inverin. This area includes An Cheathrú Rua (Carraroe), Ceantar na nOileán (Leitir Mór, Leitir Mealláin, Tír an Fhia, etc.) and Iorras Aithneach. From time to time, there will likely also be texts from the area known as Cois Fharraige (east of Inverin to Spiddal), as well as Ros Muc (which is kind of a subdialect all its own). These texts will be copied out of old or dialectal works exactly the way they are, and will be analyzed here, with me making notes of the grammar and dialectal constructions for all learners to use.

All pictures used on this site were taken by me in Carraroe, Ireland. The picture on the main page is from the ruined church at Barr a’ Doire/Trá na Reilige, and overlooks the bay and out across to Ros a’ Mhíl, where the ferries leave for Árainn. The picture on the blog page is across a lake in Carraroe itself, looking towards the church.

The name of the site, Is Linne Amáireach, is a saying that means ‘tomorrow is ours’. I’m using it here in reference to the Irish language in general. Note the dialectal form amáireach, which is used throughout Connemara instead of the standard amárach.

Either way, I hope you enjoy!