Ireland AM's leading lady, Síomha Ní Ruairc has been an unwavering advocate for the preservation and promotion of the Irish language. We caught up with the Podcaster, Presenter and Role Model to find out what 2025 has in store for her.
Throughout her career, Síomha has never failed to remain true to her love and appreciation for her native tongue, saying; “She is one of the most valuable things I have in my life because she has given me community, she has given me so many of my closest friends. She is the language through which I communicate with the closest people in my life and she has also given me my career, so I owe a lot to her. She is very, very valuable to me.”
One of Síomha’s newest projects is the popular bilingual podcast How to Gael, which she co-hosts with Louise Cantillon and Doireann Ní Ghlacáin. Every week, the podcast discusses different topics of ‘how-to’ as Síomha, Louise, and Doireann dive into anecdotes, personal stories and more, while seamlessly moving between Béarla and Gaeilge. Since its inception, How to Gael has gone from strength to strength, and they have no plans in slowing down. The podcast has already hit many milestones, with its first live show taking place at Liberty Hall last April. This was the first time that Síomha, Louise, and Doireann were able to meet their listeners, and they celebrated an electric night chatting and sharing stories. “I’ll never forget that night,” Síomha reminisces. How to Gael made their EP debut in the summer of 2024 and they also became the first-ever live podcast to perform at Dingle’s Other Voices music festival.
above: photo by Bríd O'Donovan
In 2025 they are taking their podcast on the road for a series of shows across Ireland and the US, including a stop at Galway’s Róisín Dubh on March 6th, tickets are now sold out. Chatting about their upcoming tour, Síomha says; “It’s wild. We actually can’t believe it ourselves. We are going to 5 different venues in Ireland and then 3 venues across the Atlantic; Vancouver, Boston and New York. I’ve never even been to New York before, so the fact that my podcast has allowed that - I just think it is amazing.” With the tour and other exciting plans already set in motion, 2025 is going to be the year that takes How to Gael to new heights. Manifesting for the year ahead, Síomha shares that she would love to get semi-Gaeilgoir Paul Mescal to join them on the podcast too.
“We are very aware that we are still at the beginning of the podcast journey and we really want to perfect our craft and make it a perfect podcast. A community that people can rejoin every week and come back to listen to and feel that familiarity with us. The sky is the limit with this podcast - we feel that we have only scratched the surface.”
If you want to learn/improve your Gaeilge, Síomha has loads of amazing suggestions. She recommends checking out the events website peig.ie, listening to Irish language podcasts like Béo ar Éigean, and tuning into radio stations such as Raidió na Gaeltachta, Raidió Rí-Rá, and Raidió na Life. Tuning into TG4’s full range of programmes is also a must! “I feel like How to Gael is kind of the gateway drug to the Irish language community. We are enticing people in, but then you really need to polish up on it yourself.” She also swears by finding a Gaeilge buddy to practice with. “If you don’t have any options to use it, you will lose it. So, find a pal who will embark on this Gaeilge journey with you - starting in 2025 and ending in eternity.”
above: photo by Evan Doherty
With Valentine’s Day just gone, we naturally had to get Síomha’s suggestion for a pick-up line as Gaeilge. Her choice? “A great one is ‘Ar mhaith leat bheith curtha le mo mhuintir?’ That means, ‘Would you like to be buried with my people?’ It’s actually romantic when you think about it because you are thinking long-term here. So, even though it’s a bit dark, there’s a very romantic undertone.”
For more incredible advice, craic, and gossip, tune into all that Síomha has going on @howtogael on Instagram and booking your spot at one of their upcoming live podcasts.
Feature photo by Evan Doherty
Published on Updated on
