Beginning to Learn
Whether you are just getting started or you need to review the basics, our introductory courses will make you feel right at home speaking Irish.
Corresponds to Fluency From Absolute Beginner to A2/B1
Begin at the Beginning….
Dedicated Teachers
Our teachers understand how difficult it is to learn a new language. Working with a group that has been teaching the language since 1872 has its advantages: we have the experience to help you learn!
Supportive Community
You’ll take classes with other students who are on the same journey that you are taking. Study groups and friendships made along the way will help carry you forward to your goal.
Respected Texts
Our classes use a variety of respected texts to teach the language, all of which are readily available via online retailers. We also provide our own materials to help students begin to learn quickly.
Spring 2026 Basic Level
Sundays
Progress in Irish (Office Hours)
Pádraig Ó hÁinle / Patrick Hanley
Sundays at 10am CST (Central Standard Time)/4pm Irish Time beginning February 1, 2026. Don't know your verbal known from your verbal adjective? Stuck on the modh coinníolach? Is your tuiseal not quite ginideach-ing? We meet every Sunday morning to workshop problems and answer questions. Bring your curiosity!
Sign in at https://groups.io/g/philo-review
Progress in Irish 1-15 (Section A)
Pádraig Ó hÁinle / Patrick Hanley
Sundays at 2pm CST (Central Standard Time)/8pm Irish Time beginning February 1, 2026 This is the first section of Progress in Irish, which introduces students to the verbal noun, the verbal adjective, the imperative, the verb bí (present, past, and future tenses), regular verbs in the present and past tense, the copula, and prepositional pronouns.
Sign in at https://groups.io/g/philo-progress1-15
Tuesdays
Reading for Beginners
Máire Ní Bhriain
Tuesdays at 8PM New York Time starting now. (8PM New York Time is 10AM the following day in Sydney, Australia but watch for time changes.)
We'll read 'Dúnmharú ar an Dart' and short stories at advanced beginner level.
Sign in at https://groups.io/g/philo-reading-for-beginners
Wednesdays
Exploring Irish
Gráinne Ní Chaimbéal
Wednesdays at 1PM New York Time beginning Wednesday, January 21, 2026 New York Time. (10AM in California, 6PM in Ireland, 10PM in Dubai but watch for time changes.)
Continuing from the prior term so join now! We explore the Irish Language in all available mediums, from internet memes to movie posters, poems, songs, folklore, and mythology like Oisín i dTír na n-Óg. Bilingual conversation in Gaeilge and English as we build our vocabulary together. All levels are welcome!
Sign in at https://groups.io/g/philo-Irish-memes
Fridays
Starting to Learn
Gearóid Ó Ceallaigh / Jerry Kelly
Fridays at Noon and 8PM New York Time beginning Friday, February 6, 2026 New York Time. (8PM New York Time is 10AM the following day in Sydney, Australia but watch for time changes.)
This is where beginners begin. In this class you master Irish phonetics (which are very different from every other phonetic system on the planet except Scottish Gaelic), obtain an overview of the structure of the language, and explore ancient Gaelic and Celtic culture.
Sign in at https://groups.io/g/philo-startingtolearn
Saturdays
White Belt Irish
Jean Hollis
Saturdays at 11AM in Tasmania, Australia. (Fridays in the US and Canada, please adjust for your time zone).
This group is in progress and runs until the end of April 2026. This group concentrates on Level A1 Irish with an emphasis on very basic spoken Irish.
Sign in at https://groups.io/g/philo-white-belt-irish
Progress in Irish 16-30 (Section A)
Pádraig Ó hÁinle / Patrick Hanley
Saturdays at 11am CST (Central Standard Time)/5pm Irish Time beginning January 31, 2026
This section of Progress in Irish introduces more complex grammar structures, expands on the 11 irregular verbs (past, present and future tenses), and introduces students to pluralisation forms.
Sign in at https://groups.io/g/philo-progress16-30
Progress in Irish 31-45 (Section A)
Pádraig Ó hÁinle / Patrick Hanley
Saturdays at 1pm CST (Central Standard Time)/7pm Irish Time beginning September 13, 2025 .
This section of Progress in Irish introduces students to subordinate clauses, numbers and counting, the conditional mood, making comparisons, and expands our understanding of earlier grammar structures.
Sign in at https://groups.io/g/philo-progress31-45
Multiple Days
Club Comhrá
Seda Shepherd
Sessions are in Australian mornings, which are USA evenings. Perth, Australia (GMT +8) time: Mon, Thur, Fri 9am. New York, USA (GMT -5) time: Sun, Wed, Thur 8pm. (I.E., Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 9AM Perth, Australia Time; which is Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 8PM New York Time.)
These sessions are for practicing your cúpla focal (few words). Trying to labhairt (speak) agus tuiscint (understand), gan (without) preparation nó script. Suitable for gach duine (everyone) from mid-beginner to advanced intermediate. If you’ve done some ranganna eile (other classes), learned A level frásaí (phrases), or started reading leabhair do pháistí (kids books), tá Gaeilge go leor agat (you have enough Irish). This is not about speaking perfectly using correct grammar. We are practicing our ability to recall and use words in spontaneous situations. To get our meaning across, and grasp another person’s meaning. This uses different parts of our brain than we use in our other learning, so will feel hard, but will be very helpful! These will be shorter 45 minute sessions so we don’t burn our brains out. Starting mid-January 2026. Please see message threads for current session times, as these may change through the year.
Sign in at https://groups.io/g/philo-intermediate