Excellent article Megan. I really enjoyed reading it. I'm American and have yet to visit Ireland but hope to do so.

As I read, I thought of my only experience that was remotely similar. I had just graduated from college and drove to Houston, Texas for my first job. I pulled into a grocery store to ask directions and nobody spoke English...only Spanish. The same thing happened at two other stops. It was a surreal having grown up in the Northeast.

I'm amazed at the experience with the Dubliners. I would have expected the quizzical looks but not that level of coldness and frustration. And that basement cafe! (shock)

Beautiful story about the new Gaelscoileanna (had to copy/paste that one). You sense that the kids are busting with pride. So the younger generation not only adopts the traditional language but makes it uniquely their own.

Loved these quotes:

"Even on the staunchly loyalist Shankill Road in Belfast I was treated with civility, though warned that if I persisted in speaking the language I was liable to end up in hospital."

"In Galway, I went out busking on the streets, singing the filthiest, most debauched lyrics I could think of to see if anyone would understand. No one did - old women smiled, tapping their feet merrily, as I serenaded them with filth."

LOL

I must issue a statement here..I don't like Manchán Magan. He is a very precious man and set out to offend and belittle with this article.
This is an old article, here in Ireland and caused a bit of an outrage at the time. I think Mancán might have plagerised bits from "The Popes children."
It is very reminiscent of that book..
I learnt an Gailege at school and attended the Gaeltachts in Gweedore and Loch an Úr.
The Irish language isn't being taught in primary schools anymore, so my 2 daughters will attend weekend Gaelscoileanna, from next year.