Looking for Irish Gaelic speaker in Scotland

[dementedma]

To spend half an hour or so talking to my father in his mother tongue? He has dementia and is in a care home in Central Scotland and often lapses into Gaelic, which I dont speak. I will pay travel expenses and time.I think it would make him happy.

[MarDhea]

I wish I could help, OP, but my Irish isn't fluent enough any more for proper conversation. It's a lovely thing to do for your dad though

Could you say what part of Ireland your dad is from? The dialect of Irish could make a difference to a non-native (but fairly fluent) speaker.

(For example, back in the day, I could have chatted away as Gaeilge to someone from Kerry but had real trouble understanding Donegal Irish).

[Numbsnet]

There's an Irish Facebook page called "anyone know?". Try that, there's thousands in it, sure to be someone.

[dementedma]

Hes from Dublin. Will try the Facebook page. Thanks

[Numbsnet]

It's this one with 20k members. good luck!
m.facebook.com/groups/581408548630613

[dublinia]

Bumping for you.
I hope you find some people who speak as Gaeilge.
Such a loving gesture from you

[dementedma]

Thank you. Am following up these suggestions

[turkeyboots]

Try the Irish Embassy as all public servants are supposedly fluent, and I think there is a consul office in Glasgow. Also worth asking the local Catholic Church if they know of anyone?

[dementedma]

Ooh Embassy is another good idea. A Catholic priest would really send him over the edge ! He is Catholic, and even trained to be a priest in his youth for a while, but he has some issues with the Church now, to say the least. He would be like Father Jack, shouting, ""Feck! Arse!" and foaming at the mouth.

[turkeyboots]

Good luck with the search. It's a really lovely thing you are doing.

[peanut2017]

Best of luck finding someone - such a lovely idea

[Passmethatyoke]

If you are in a area with a big enough population you might have a look and see if there are any Irish sessions on. I live down south and sing in Gaeilge at our local one.

[geekaMaxima]

If you're on Twitter at all, there's a big Irish-speaking presence. If someone like @theirishfor or @tuairiscnuacht retweeted your request, there's a good chance some Gaelgeoirí in Scotland might see it.

[user1471134011]

I’d post in the Facebook groups for the unis in scotland, most have their own SU or student page. Absolutely loads of Irish students there and they may be looking to pick up some part time work. Also worth saying which part of the country your Dad learned his Irish (Ulster/Munster/Connaught) as they are v different regional dialects.
Catholic schools also usually have a few Irish teachers on staff who might be able to help. I don’t know if you are aware but at a push there is an Irish language radio station (Radio an Gaeltachta) and a television station (TG4) with playback facilities and podcasts so he might like to hear the language spoken in the background ?

[user1471134011]

Oh sorry I see MarDhea made the point about dialect

[user1471134011]

Also Irish Centres and Irish studies departments at universities often have links to local speakers