Parent Resources
Ó Ghlúin go Glúin
Raising children in a minoritized language such as Irish can be one of the most rewarding things you do. Even if you are only able to pass on a few words, you are gifting them with a lifelong knowledge of who they are, where they come from, and the vast cultural inheritance they are entitled to. But it can also be challenging. With the right methods and some planning and practice, you can help your child grow up speaking Irish.
Parents, remember that the Irish language and culture belong to your child and their descendants, just as they belong to you. Whether you choose to pass on Irish or not, it may be something they wish to introduce to their own children one day. By starting now, even with a few words or phrases, you not only help preserve an endangered language but also give your child confidence, dignity, and a strong connection to their roots. You have the power to refresh your family's cultural bonds to Ireland, ensuring a lasting legacy for generations to come.
Why Bilingualism is Good
Cultural Preservation
By raising children in Irish, you pass on your cultural heritage to the next generation. Especially in the diaspora, these connections can be lost over time, and by giving Irish to your child you are making sure that generations to come will know where they come from and what their culture is. Knowing about our language means your children will also know that we are a distinct people with our own history and culture.
Cognitive Development
Bilingual or multilingual upbringing can have cognitive benefits for children. Research suggests that being exposed to multiple languages from an early age can enhance cognitive flexibility, problem-solving skills, and overall linguistic abilities. Any amount of language you can give them will help them understand all world languages better, no matter which they choose later in life.
Stronger Family Bonds
Speaking Irish at home, when you may be the only ones in your community doing so, can create an especially strong bond within your family. Many people mention how Irish becomes a shared secret language that can be spoken freely around others, and help your children tell you what they need in situations where they may be shy. This strengthens family ties, and gives your child a personal connection to the global Gaelic community.
Expanded Opportunities
Knowing a minoritized language can open up unique opportunities for children later in life. Understanding that there are subtle differences between values, morals, and cultures, all based in language, can facilitate cultural understanding and enable your child to communicate with and compassionately understand a wider range of people.
Recognizing the Challenge
There are many people in the diaspora who want to give their children the gift of language, but there are also unique challenges. By connecting with other parent and knowing these challenges, we can overcome them together.
Limited Exposure
Raising children in Irish often means not having many others around to provide language examples for them, or other children to play with in Irish. Things that can help are:
have at least one daily activity that all agree is only done in Irish
have special trips (ie. museum) that are only in Irish
connect with any parents you can (something we can help you with, as we have active parents in our community)
Social Stigma
In certain contexts, speaking a minoritized language may be associated with marginalization or discrimination. Children may face challenges, such as negative attitudes or being perceived as "different" by their peers or society.
do your best to advocate, in the community and at school (give a cultural workshop)
present a positive face, your kids will see your own opinion and mirror it. Make positive associations and make it your ‘love language’
be prepared, people in both Canada and Ireland will say you are crazy, damaging your child, or wasting your time
Lack of Support and Resources
Finding adequate resources, such as books, learning materials, and even rhymes and games, can be challenging in minoritized languages, due to their history of repression.
have media available mostly in Irish through TG4 kids programming and books, rather than English (they will get plenty of English media in the outside world)
write translations into books if you can’t find Irish language editions
Language Maintenance
Sustaining a minoritized language across generations can be a significant challenge. It requires ongoing dedication, active language use, and fostering a positive language identity within the community.
attend Gaeltacht or Irish language or cultural events with your children, to form positive associations
actively learn Irish along with your children - if you don’t know a word, look it up together
encourage non-Irish-speaking family members to use some basic words (such as “slán”)
Ways to Use Irish at Home
There are several recognized methods you can use to bring Irish into your child’s life. Which is right for you depends on your own level of fluency, your commitment and end goals, and what can be realistically achieved. What is most important is to pick the one that works best for your family and to be consistent!
Choosing the Right Way for Your Family
When deciding how to raise your bilingual child, think about:
What level of Irish are you and your partner comfortable with
What level of Irish would you want your child to have
How much time and effort you can put into using Irish each day
Whichever method you choose, the key is to stay consistent, supportive, and to have fun!
-
Recommended Fluency: Both parents comfortable in Irish
In this method, everyone speaks Irish at home, while the child learns English outside, like at school or with friends. This require Irish fluency from both parents.
Good Things About This
Most successful method for bilingualism
Irish becomes the main language at home, helping kids learn it well as they learn Irish for most daily experiences.
They can still pick up English easily from others outside the home.
Challenges
It takes a lot of effort to make sure Irish stays the main language, especially if most people around you speak English.
Kids might not want to speak Irish outside the home if their friends don’t, or might have limited vocabulary for outside activities.
-
Recommended Fluency: One parent comfortable in Irish
In this method, each parent speaks one language all the time. For example, one parent might always speak Irish, while the other always speaks English.
Good Things About This
It helps kids keep the two languages separate in their minds, without code-switching.
Children get to practice both language, though the majority language will be more familiar.
Challenges
Both parents need to be comfortable speaking their chosen language.
If one parent spends more time with the child, their language might become stronger.
Encouraging active fluency (speaking back in Irish) can be a challenge, as children will know that you also speak the majority language and they will use passive fluency (listening to Irish but responding in the majority language)
-
Recommended Fluency: One or both parents learning Irish
This method uses different times or places for each language. For example, you might speak Irish in the morning and English in the afternoon, or use Irish during meals or bath time, and English during playtime.
Good Things About This
It gives your child a chance to practice both languages at different times.
Children love regularity. Kids learn to connect certain activities with a specific language, which helps them remember better.
Parents do not have to be fully fluent, as they can focus their own learning on gaining the skills needed for that specific activity (ie. learning bath time words)
Challenges
It can be hard to keep track of when and where to use each language, and life events can interfere with plans.
If you don’t stick to the plan, one language might slowly get pushed out.
Children will only learn vocabulary specific to the activity, and will use the more comfortable majority language for other activities.
-
Recommended Fluency: One or both parents learning Irish
In this approach, parents use both languages in the same conversation, switching between Irish and English naturally.
Good Things About This
It feels more like how people speak in real life, especially in bilingual areas.
There’s less pressure to stick to just one language all the time.
Challenges
Kids might mix up the languages in the same sentence (code-switching), which could slow down learning grammar.
It could take longer for them to fully learn each language.
This leaves the use of Irish up to the dedication of the child. Children (and parents) will be more likely to use the more comfortable majority language.
Least successful method for successful bilingualism
Tips for Success
Teaching your child Irish is a special journey that helps keep the language alive. By picking a method that fits your family, staying consistent, and making it fun, you can help your child become confident in speaking both Irish and English. Your efforts will help them enjoy the many benefits of being bilingual, from sharper thinking skills to stronger cultural connections. Here are some easy ways to make learning both languages fun for your child:
Be Patient
Every child learns at their own pace. Some may become fluent quickly, while others take more time. Celebrate the little wins, and don’t pressure them. Your encouragement is key to their success!
Encourage Social Play
Let your child meet and play with other kids who speak Irish. This helps them practice the language in a fun and friendly way. You could organize playdates or join an Irish-language group in your area.
Your Home as Gaeltacht
While they are young, you have the opportunity to artificially make Irish as prominent around your child as the majority language, by making your home into a place for cultural immersion! This can mean displaying Irish cultural items, cooking Irish food, labelling items around the house with Irish, or celebrating Gaelic festivals. The warmth and love of your home will become merged with your child’s love of Gaelic culture.
Make Learning Fun
Use books, songs, and games in Irish to keep your child excited about learning. You can find great Irish-language games online, or create your own by adding Irish to simple card or board games. You can also get English and Irish copies of the same story, to help with understanding.
Stay Consistent
Stick to your plan. Changing things up too often can confuse your child. Children thrive on consistency.
Irish Media as a Reward
When media (TV, games, books) are used as a reward, consistently choosing Irish-language media (such as TG4 kids’ shows) over the majority language will help reinforce and expand understanding, introduce excitement, and can take pressure off of parents who otherwise might be the child’s only source for language. Try to put Irish media on at least equal footing with the majority community language for as long as you can.
Rhymes
Try using Irish-language nursery rhymes during daily routines or playtime. The rhyming words help with pronunciation and make the language feel more fun and memorable. It’s a fun way for kids to practice Irish while playing. Here are some of our Gaeltacht parents’ favourites
Bhí fear ann fadó agus fadó bhí
Cheannaigh sé láí agus ba dheas an láí í
Bhain sé fóidín agus bhí neaidín faoi
Bhí uibhín sa neaidín agus ba dheas an uibhín í
Bhí éinín insan uibhín agus ba dheas an t-éinín é
Bhí eireaball ar an éinín chomh fada le mo méirín
Sin deireadh le mo scéilín nach deas an scéilín í
There was an man long ago, and long it was
He bought a loy spade and a nice loy it was
He cut turf and there was a small nest beneath
There was an egg in the nest and a fine egg it was
There was a bird in the egg and a fine bird it was
There was a tail on the bird as long as my finger
That’s the end of my story and isn’t it a nice story
hAaon, dó, lao is bó,
Capall sa stábla, muc sa cró,
Daid ina chodladh, Mam ina suí,
Páiste uaigneach fágtha amuigh.
One, two, a calf and a cow,
A horse in the stable, a pig in the pen,
Dad sleeping, Mam sitting,
A lonely child left outside.
Lullabies
Singing bedtime songs in Irish is a comforting and natural way to expose your child to the language. Here are some of our Gaeltacht parents’ favourites
A Bhean Úd Thíos
A bhean úd thíos ar bhruach an tsrutháin
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
An dtuigeann tusa fáth mo ghearáin?
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
’S gur bhliain sa lá inniú a fuadaíodh mé óm’ leannán
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
Is do rugadh mise isteach i lios an chnocáin
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
Oh Woman Yonder
Oh woman yonder on the bank of the stream
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó (non-lexical vocables)
Do you understand the reason for my complaint?
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
That it would be a year today since I was abducted from my beloved
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
And I was taken into the fairy fort of the hill
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
Curfá / Chorus:
Seoithín, seoithín, seoithín seó, seoithín seó, seó hú leo
Seoithín, seoithín, seoithín seó, seoithín seó, seó hú leo
Seo é anseo mo theach mór maiseach
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
Is iomaí mil bhuí agus céir bheach ann
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
Is iomaí leann úr agus seanleann ann
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
Is iomaí seanduine ar a nasc ann
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
(Curfá)
Here is my great, elegant house
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
Much yellow honey and wax of bees is there
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
Much fresh ale and aged ale is there
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
Many old people are in bondage there
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
(Chorus)
Is iomaí buachaill cúl donn cast’ ann
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
Is iomaí cailín cúl buí deas ann
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
Tá dhá bhean deag ag iompar mac ann
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
Is an oiread eile lena n-ais ann
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
(Curfá)
Many are the boys of dark curling hair there
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
Many are the girls of pretty blonde hair there
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
There are twelve women carrying sons there
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
And the rest are beside them there
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
(Chorus)
Abair lem’ chéile teacht amárach
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
An choinneal chéireach i gcroí a dhearnan
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
Scian choise duibhe a thabhairt ‘na lámh leis
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
Is an capall tosaigh a bhualadh leis sa bhearna
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
(Curfá)
Tell my husband to come tomorrow
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
The wax candle in the centre of his palm
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
A black-handled knife to bring in his hand with him
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
And the first horse that meets with him in the gap
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
(Chorus)
An luibh a bhaint ‘tá i ndoras an leasa
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
Is tá súil le Dia ‘gam go rachainn leis abhaile
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
Nó mura dté sé inniú nó amárach
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
Beadsa im’ bhanríon ar na mná seo
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
(Curfá)
The herb to cut is in the door of the yard
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
And I hope to God that I will go home with him
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
Or if he would not come today or tomorrow
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
I will be as queen over these women here
Seoithín seó, seó hú leó
(Chorus)
Other Resources
Coming Soon
Cúla4, Futa Fata, Litriocht / Siopa.ie, Library kids section, https://gaelbhratach.ie/is-feidir-linn/