Go a Day Speaking Irish in Galway

In honour of ‘Seachtain na nGaeilge,’ we challenge you to utilise your Gaeilge by going a day in Galway using Irish. To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of places where you can put your Irish (no matter the level) to good use.

Start your day with a coffee over at the lovely Galway Westend café, Plámás. They have an easy to follow ordaigh as Gaeilge/order in Irish guide above the coffee bar and also offer a 10c discount to reward all who make the effort. The staff here are also fluent in Irish so if you fancy a chat as Gaeilge, they will be more than happy to oblige.

above: photo courtesy of Plámás

Go on a Irish speaking distillery tour at Micil Distillery. Led by Pádraic Ó Griallais, a 6th generation distiller, Micil traces its roots all the way back to 1848 in Connemara. During the tour, you’ll learn the history of whiskey, poitín and gin, how they’re made, and what makes Micil so unique. You’ll also get to sample some of their award-winning products. To pre-booked your tour, contact them at www.micildistillery.com.

Take a spin out to the lovely Gaeltacht region in Spiddal and enjoy a delicious meal at Búilín Blasta. The menus here feature all the classic options as well as seasonal specials and it is just the kind of place that every visitor to Connemara hopes to happen on so be sure to pay them a visit. Discover our guide to this Gaeltacht region here.

above: Spiddal Craft Village, by Ciarán MacChoncarraige

Brush up on your Irish conversation at Áras na nGael’s biweekly Ciorcal Comhrá groups. All levels are welcome so be sure to pop round and say Dia dhuit/hello. This group meets in person every Monday at 6pm, and every Thursday at 6pm on Zoom.

Check out what’s on at the Irish language theatre An Taibhdhearc and attend one of their fantastic events which are held through Irish! This theatre welcomes events of all categories and is also home to a cosy bar/café which is the perfect place to relax and socialise regardless of whether you are catching a performance. Discover their program at www.antaibhdhearc.com.

Finish out your day with a visit to the Irish speaking pub in the heart of the city, Taaffes. Here, the staff all speak fluently and are happy to banter away as Gaeilge as you enjoy your pint. They also have traditional music playing live each day at 5.30pm and 9.30pm, earning them a reputation for their truly authentic Irish experience.

above: photo courtesy of Taaffes

Feature photo by Chaosheng Zhang