Intermediate Irish Part 1: Towards the Fáinne Óir (Gold Fáinne)

Led by our experienced instructor, Catherine Calumarte, this 11-week course is ideal for individuals who have a good basic level of spoken Irish and have a good grounding in basic grammar and in the structure of Irish. During the course, students will be encouraged and supported to progress to confident speaking in Irish on a range of subjects and to enhance their understanding of the structure of the language as they work towards the Fáinne Óir (Gold Fáinne).

Time: 5.30 pm to 7 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 Intermediate 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 have the option of trying for the Fáinne Óir (Gold Fáinne) at the end of Part 3. It is, however, a significant step up from the Fáinne Airgid  to the Fáinne Óir and most students will need more time to increase their fluency before they try for the Fáinne Óir . All students are encouraged and supported to progress at their own pace.

Intermediate Irish: 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.