The amount of students picking higher level Irish has gone up due to the shift in the curriculum from learning off stories to oral skills, meaning that the Irish language is actually growing in popularity.Â
This is great news for all involved, and even more reason to get stuck back into Peig, and have the odd gander at Ros na RĂşn every so often.Â
For those of you who’ve already nailed it, well done! Here are all the ways this skill will benefit you in your day-to-day life.Â
1. When TG4’s Aifric is looking for extras
Hollywood, here you come!
2. When you’re in a foreign country and want to bitch about everyone around you
Twits.
3. When you’re stuck in Connemara with nothing but Tinder
It could happen.
4. When you’re strolling along Grafton Street and bump into Seo Linn
A likely situation.Â
5. When RTÉ shuts down and you flick over to TG4 for the Nuacht
Who’s laughing now?!Â
6. If you want to enter the Rose of Tralee and flirt with DaithĂ
Grace may get you the crown, but Gaeilge will get you O’SĂ©.
7. If you ever want to Netflix &Â Chill with Michael D
A purveyor of an Ghaeilge, Michael D is all about craic, ceol and being cĂşl as you like. Chill with him, and you’ll be watching re-runs of Paisean Faisean.
8. When you want to swear badly but you’re in front of your grandparents and you don’t want them to think you’re a bloody brat
Ding ding, lightbulb!
9. If you ever want to make peace between two nations
You know, no big deal.
10. If you want to skip the queue in the bank by going to the Irish speaking teller
For all the times you want to say “so I spent all my money on Jägerbombs last night and I need you to help me not die in the next three weeks” in Irish.
11. If you want to do your driving test tomorrow
You can request an Irish speaking instructor.
12. If you want to join the Rubber Bandits
Apparently you need a C3 in honours at least.
13. For when you want to make golden puns like this one
Can’t do that as BĂ©arla.
Never went to Irish College for the summers when I was a teenager… Heard there was a ban on tea #gaeilgejoke
— Mark Evans (@shaelum) August 11, 2014
14. And finally, for when Harry Potter books sell out in a number of seconds, but you’ve got plenty to choose from…
HÂ Piddy abĂş.
After all this time…. (Ach an uair seo as Gaeilge) pic.twitter.com/AWVzUynHDM
— Peadar (@p_dader) August 7, 2016
READ NEXT: 18 (More) Irish Words That The English Language Should Have – Here’s Part A DĂł