I have considered learning Irish Gaelic because I
planned to move to Ireland some years ago.<br>I've been
interested in Celtic culture since the late 1980s and Irish
culture since the early 1990s. One of my early
inspirations was the late Phil Lynott. I also liked the film
'The Commitments'.<br><br>In the early 1990s I had a
lot of Irish friends. In 1992, there was one Irishman
originally from Cork City who gave me a bi-lingual book in
English and Irish about St. Patrick. This was the first
time I saw the Irish language in written form.
<br><br>In late 1996 I visited Dublin around New Year's Eve.
I enjoyed it but I wish I could have stayed longer,
although I hoped to move over there by the end of
1999.<br><br>Unfortunately many things which were beyond my control have
somehow got in the way of moving to Ireland and I'm still
in London. I hope to move to Dublin in the
mid-zeroes.<br><br>For the first time I heard Irish Gaelic on a download
of TG4, The Irish language TV channel.<br>It sounds
like a guttural language which doesn't sound as
feminine as French. It suits me fine because I can
pronounce hard 'ch' which most English people are unable to
do.<br><br>All I know is Fáilte (welcome) and rí-rá (hullabaloo)
and I can type fadas on the keyboard.<br><br>I don't
know whether to learn it because I'm 26 and have never
successfully learnt another language. I might be too old and I
don't know if the language will ever come to any use.
Besides, I don't know if I'll ever end up emigrating to
Ireland.<br><br>I know that this is an Irish language forum and I'm
typing in English but I would appreciate some
advice.<br><br>X!