Resources to help you learn the Irish language

Online Resources 

Learn Irish for free with some of Dublin City Libraries’ online resources: Transparent Language Online and uTalk.

Access eBooks/eAudiobooks on BorrowBox on your phone, tablet or reader or download the BorrowBox app from your App Store (Google Play) (iTunes) (Kindle Fire). Once you have installed the app, search for Dublin in the ‘Library’ field provided and then sign in using your library membership card number and PIN. Watch our how to video on Borrowbox. Members of other library authorities will need to log in using a different link.

If you don’t have a library card at the moment, if you need to renew your library membership, or if you’re not sure of your PIN, don’t hesitate to contact your local library and they will help you; please see here for more information on library membership.

Libraries Ireland Support as Gaeilge.

Reserve items on Dublin City Libraries online catalogue. 

Find your library's online catalogue here if you are not resident in Dublin. 

Irish Language Classes

Don't forget to check our events page for Irish conversation groups. Whether you are fluent or have a cúpla focal, you are invited to join our Irish Conversation groups. This is a great way to meet new people and have fun in a supportive and friendly environment. 

• Thursdays 3.00 - 4.00pm in Ballymun Library
• Saturdays 11.30 - 12.30pm in Cabra Library
• Saturdays 1.15 - 2.15pm in Central Library
• Saturdays 11.30am in Dolphin's Barn Library
• Mondays 6.30pm in Donaghmede Library
• Wednesdays 6.30pm in Raheny Library

Media Channels

RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta (RnaG) is Ireland's main Irish language radio station that is available to listen to live. The service broadcasts a wide range of news and current affairs programs, magazine programs, music programs of all kinds, sports and entertainment.

TG4 is an Irelands dedicated Irish language TV channel and almost all of its programs are in Irish. It is a fantastic way to watch, listen, and learn the Irish language being spoken fluently and with its English subtitles, is a great way to nurture your Irish language skills.

If you live outside Ireland, its on-demand online service, TG4 Player, will get the channel to you. TG4 has established itself as the producer of some excellent programs over the years, in particular, some high-end documentaries, excellent sports coverage and of course, it's soap opera Ros na Rún.

MOLSCÉAL – iTunes – Google Play – The MOLSCÉAL app was developed by TG4, the Irish language public television channel, and makes Irish language short videos available to the Irish language community online and in one place. The videos feature community-based stories created by a panel of video storytellers covering popular topics like entertainment, news, and sports.

Pop music will love Raidió Rí Rá – which mixes chart music with small easily understandable bits of entertainment news.

Dublin Irish community radio station, Raidió na Life is also more accessible for the Irish language learner as many of its volunteers are learners themselves. It also plays the most diverse music selection in Dublin with its highly contrasting shows and is well worth a listen for this alone.

Handy stuff to know

Would you like to use more Irish at home? Free new digital Irish language resource. Is Féidir Linn!  Browse the chapters to see the phrases, songs and rhymes that you can incorporate into your daily routine. 

Forvo is the largest pronunciation guide in the world and an invaluable resource to find find out how any Irish word is pronounced.  Just type the word you’re looking for into the search bar in Irish and you'll be able to hear how the word is pronounced, as well as the meaning of the word and how it can be used in a phrase.

Translate long text to audio with Abair.ie. 

Focloir.ie is the best online Irish-English dictionary and their app is available free of charge for both Apple and Android devices. 

Focal.ie is also a dictionary but more technical in nature giving declensions and plurals for a lot of words for intermediate and higher-level learners.

Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla Dictionary – iTunes – Google Play – This is a searchable electronic version of Ó Dónaill’s Irish-English Dictionary which was first published in 1977. It provides the most comprehensive coverage of Irish words and grammar.

De Bhaldraithe’s English-Irish Dictionary – iTunes – Google Play – This is a searchable electronic version of de Bhaldraithe’s English-Irish Dictionary, first published in 1959.

Teanglann – iTunes – Google Play – This online Dictionary was developed by Foras na Gaeilge, an organization devoted to promoting the Irish language. Users will find definitions, grammatical information and sound files for any individual word.

For advanced learners, Gramadach na Gaeilge offers an in-depth look at Irish grammar.