Complete Beginners Irish Part 1: Cúpla Focal

Our popular Irish for Complete Beginners class is back. Led by experienced instructor Catherine Calumarte, this 11-week course is designed specifically for absolute beginners and anyone looking to brush up on the basics.

This introductory course will cover sound structure as well as basic conversation and grammar. Songs and stories as well as mythology and insights into Irish culture will form a backdrop to the course.

Time: 12:30 pm to 2 pm

Dates: 

• Thursday 18 September
• Thursday 25 September
• Thursday 2 October
• Thursday 9 October
• Thursday 16 October
• Thursday 23 October
• Thursday 6 November
• Thursday 13 November
• Thursday 20 November
• Thursday 27 November
• Thursday 4 December

There will be no class on Thursday 30 October.

If  you enjoy Part 1 of this Beginners course, you’ll have the option to sign up for Part 2, which will run from January-March 2026, and for Part 3, which will run from April-June 2026. Participants who complete the course will also have the option of gaining the ‘Cúpla Focal’ badge at the end of Part 3.

Irish Beginners: Part 1 will not run again until September 2026.

About Catherine Calumarte

Catherine Calumarte is a graduate of Queen’s University Belfast, St Mary’s University and the University of Ulster. She holds a BA (Hons) Irish Language and Literature and a PGCE. She has had a lifelong association with the Irish language and is a committee member of St Patrick’s Branch of the Gaelic League and of Belfast Feis.