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IR10050

Academic Year 2026/2027

Irish for Beginners/Gaeilge do Thosaitheoirí (IR10050)

Subject:
Irish
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Irish, Celtic Stud & Folklore
Level:
1 (Introductory)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Connor McCabe
Trimester:
Autumn and Spring (separate)
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This is an Irish language module aimed at complete beginners, offered by the School of Irish, Celtic Studies & Folklore. The module assumes no prior knowledge of the language. Students are provided with a structural overview of core elements of Irish pronunciation and grammar in weekly lectures, supported by dialogue, grammar, and translation exercises in tutorials. The module targets A1-level skills in Irish for assessment purposes, with more advanced A2/B1 concepts introduced for consideration as relevant to a broader picture of the language.

Output from Generative Artificial Intelligence is not permitted for any material submitted for assessment in this module, although students are allowed to use editing, proofing, and reference tools (e.g. spell- and grammar checkers) which may be based on AI more broadly at their discretion for continuous assessment. Students are encouraged not to rely too heavily on these so that they can develop relevant language skills for the final exam.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

By engaging with lessons, assessment, and practice, upon completion of the module students should be able to:

1. Conceptually understand the structure of Irish sentences and phrases.
2. Pronounce Irish words based on their written form.
3. Compose, translate, and understand basic texts/dialogues in Irish appropriate to a beginner's level of study.

Indicative Module Content:

Subject to change, the weekly lesson plan is as follows:

Week 1 - Contextual introduction to Irish; Basic phrases
Week 2 - Irish sounds and spelling
Week 3 - Initial mutations (séimhiú and urú)
Week 4 - Verbs 'to be' (bí and is); Verbal nouns
Week 5 - Expressing 'to have'; Prepositions
Week 6 - Irish nouns: plurals and the genitive
Week 7 - Adjectives: descriptions and evaluations
Week 8 - More with verbs: past and present tenses
Week 9 - The future tenses and results (verbal adjectives)
Week 10 - More complex sentences: subordination
Week 11 - Wishes; Gaelic surnames
Week 12 - Review

Weekly vocabulary is thematically arranged to scaffold discussion of A1-appropriate topics such as names, place of origin, likes/dislikes, accommodation, location, food, etc.

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Collaboration

 The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Competent

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Competent

Self-awareness

 The ability to reflect on one’s own role in the local community and (global) society; to continually evaluate and further motivate one’s actions; and to deal with one’s feelings and desires. Competent

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


Goal Name Description Coverage

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 1
 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

12
Tutorial

24
Specified Learning Activities

30
Autonomous Student Learning

34
Total

100

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Each week, students have three classes:

1. A formal grammar lesson and overview of vocabulary for the week.
2. A dialogue/conversation practice tutorial based on printed materials.
3. A grammar/translation tutorial based on exercises relating to the week's grammar lesson.

In all classes, students are encouraged to ask questions and develop their metalinguistic awareness.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

No prior learning

Learning Exclusions:

In general, students who have studied Irish to Junior/Leaving Certificate level, or who have studied the language to a comparable standard, should not take this module and will not be assessed in this module. For possible exceptions, contact the module coordinator, but note that such exceptions are rare.

Learning Recommendations:

No prior learning


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
IR10040 - Teanga na Gaeilge I


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Students will complete practical translation, composition, and transcription tasks. Week 3, Week 7, Week 9, Week 12 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
50
 No
Exam (In-person): Students will complete an in-person written exam to assess composition, reading comprehension, and translation. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
50
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Remediation Type Remediation Timing
Repeat Within Two Trimesters
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be provided when continuous assessment activities are being returned to students.

Students may benefit from consulting introductory books on Irish, such as:

Ó Dónaill, É. 2010. Essential Irish Grammar: Teach Yourself.

Ó Siadhail, M. 1988/2006. Learning Irish: An introductory self-tutor. Yale University Press.

Stenson, N. 2019. Modern Irish: A Comprehensive Grammar. Routledge.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Mon 11:00 - 11:50
Autumn Small Group Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Thurs 15:00 - 15:50
Autumn Small Group Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Wed 13:00 - 13:50
Autumn Small Group Offering 2 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Tues 15:00 - 15:50
Autumn Small Group Offering 2 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Wed 14:00 - 14:50
Autumn Small Group Offering 3 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Thurs 13:00 - 13:50
Autumn Small Group Offering 3 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Wed 15:00 - 15:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Mon 11:00 - 11:50
Spring Small Group Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 15:00 - 15:50
Spring Small Group Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 13:00 - 13:50
Spring Small Group Offering 2 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 15:00 - 15:50
Spring Small Group Offering 2 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 14:00 - 14:50
Spring Small Group Offering 3 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 13:00 - 13:50
Spring Small Group Offering 3 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
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