22/09/2026
An Evening as Gaeilge brought us together at the London Irish Centre to celebrate the women bringing our language to new audiences, and what a night it turned out to be. Fluent, rusty, or holding on to just a few words from school, everyone belonged in that room.
We spoke honestly about the quiet shame so many of us carry around the cúpla focal, and we agreed it is time to let that go. Doireann, who spoke Irish before she ever spoke English, shared her own journey of coming home to the language, and reminded us that reclaiming it is really a journey back to yourself. She was clear too that this is no online trend. The revival was built over decades by grassroots communities, and the diaspora in cities like London are the ones keeping that fire lit.
Emily told us how the Gaeltacht changed her life, and how she has built a community that puts Irish to the forefront for the diaspora, because ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine, we live in each other's shadow. And Mollie, who now has students in eighty-five countries, from newborn babies to people over one hundred, showed us that it is never too late and you are never too far away. Start where you are, do what you can, use what you have.
The advice was beautifully simple. Do not go back to the classroom and learn things off by heart. Live it instead. Listen, read, watch your programmes as Gaeilge, meet a friend for coffee and chat as Gaeilge. It is a journey, not a marathon you run overnight, and it is worth every stride.
If you take one thing from the night, follow Irish with Mollie and pick up her book, The Gaeilge Guide, a best seller and an Irish Book Award nominee.
To everyone who travelled, who came solo, who came out on their first night in a long while, and who shared something deeply personal with a room full of strangers, go raibh míle maith agaibh.
Thank you to the London Irish Centre, your supportive team, and the amazing panellists.
