Irish Dialects · Gaeilge Chonnacht
Connacht Irish: the Gaeilge of Galway and Mayo.
Connacht Irish (Gaeilge Chonnacht) is spoken in the Gaeltacht areas of Galway and Mayo, home to the largest Gaeltacht in the country.
Gaeltacht areas in Galway, Mayo & Meath Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú? Choose Connacht with your tutor
Where It Is Spoken
Where Connacht Irish is spoken.
Connacht Irish lives in the Gaeltacht areas of Co. Galway and Co. Mayo, and in a small Gaeltacht in Co. Meath founded by families from Conamara.
Gaillimh
Co. Galway
- Conamara
- Cois Fharraige
- Oileáin Árann
The largest Gaeltacht, running west of Galway city through Conamara and out to the Aran Islands. TG4 and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta both have their headquarters here.
Maigh Eo
Co. Mayo
- Iorras
- Acaill
- Tuar Mhic Éadaigh
Gaeltacht areas at Iorras (Erris) and Acaill (Achill) in the west of the county, and at Tuar Mhic Éadaigh (Tourmakeady) in the south.
An Mhí
Co. Meath
- Ráth Chairn
Ráth Chairn was settled by Irish-speaking families from Conamara in the 1930s, so Connacht Irish is spoken in Leinster too.
How to Recognise It
What makes Connacht Irish sound like Connacht.
Four features you will notice quickly once you start listening.
01
A greeting of its own
Connacht asks “how are you?” with Cén chaoi, literally “what way”.
Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú? How are you?
02
Céard for “what”
Where Munster says cad and Ulster says cad é, Connacht speakers usually say céard.
Céard é sin? What is that?
03
Tá mé, not táim
Connacht usually puts the pronoun after the verb as a separate word, rather than in the verb ending.
Bhí mé ann inné. I was there yesterday.
04
Stress up front
As in Ulster, words are usually stressed on the first syllable.
cailín “girl”: said CAL-een
Phrases to Try
Everyday Connacht Irish.
A first handful of phrases, with a note on which ones are Connacht forms and which you will hear everywhere.
- Dia duit! Hello! Used everywhere
- Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú? How are you? Connacht form
- Tá mé go maith, go raibh maith agat. I’m well, thank you. Connacht form
- Céard é sin? What is that? Connacht form
- An-mhaith! Very good! Also used in Munster
- Slán! Goodbye! Used everywhere
Compared With the Other Dialects
Connacht side by side.
The same everyday words across all three dialects, with Connacht highlighted.
| English | Connacht | Munster | Ulster |
|---|---|---|---|
| How are you? | Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú? | Conas atá tú? | Cad é mar atá tú? |
| What? | Céard? | Cad? | Cad é? |
| Very good | An-mhaith | An-mhaith | Iontach maith |
| Irish (the language) | Gaeilge | Gaelainn | Gaeilg |
Each dialect also varies from place to place. In writing, all three follow the standard spelling of An Caighdeán Oifigiúil. See the full comparison →
Practise Connacht Irish
Speak Connacht Irish with your tutor.
When you speak with your tutor on Gaeilgeoir, choose Connacht as your dialect and pick the teacher you want to learn with. Then practise everyday conversations out loud.
- Choose Connacht as your dialect
- Choose your teacher
- Speak your answers out loud
- Translations and hints whenever you need them
EVERYDAY CONVERSATION
T Teacher: Your choice ▾ G Dialect: Connacht ▾
Dia duit! Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú? Hello! How are you?
Tá mé go maith, go raibh maith agat.
An-mhaith! Very good!
Speak your answer in Irish
Other Irish Dialects
Explore the other dialects.
Hearing the other two dialects trains your ear, even if Connacht is the one you speak.
Gaeilge na Mumhan
Munster Irish
Spoken in the Gaeltacht areas of Kerry, Cork and Waterford.
- Corca Dhuibhne
- Uíbh Ráthach
- Múscraí
- An Rinn
Gaeilge Uladh
Ulster Irish
Spoken in the Donegal Gaeltacht, and the dialect most learners in Northern Ireland learn.
- Gaoth Dobhair
- Na Rosa
- Toraigh
- Gleann Cholm Cille
Canúintí na Gaeilge
All three dialects
Compare everyday phrases side by side, learn about the official standard and find the right dialect for you.
Compare the Irish dialects → Questions
Connacht Irish, answered.
Common questions about Connacht Irish and how to practise it.
Where is Connacht Irish spoken?
In the Gaeltacht areas of Co. Galway, including Conamara and the Aran Islands, and Co. Mayo, including Iorras, Acaill and Tuar Mhic Éadaigh. It is also spoken in Ráth Chairn, Co. Meath, which was settled by families from Conamara in the 1930s.
How do you say “How are you?” in Connacht Irish?
Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú? A common reply is Tá mé go maith, go raibh maith agat (I’m well, thank you).
What makes Connacht Irish different?
Recognisable features include Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú? for “how are you?”, céard for “what”, verb forms with a separate pronoun such as tá mé and bhí mé, and stress on the first syllable of most words.
Is Connacht Irish a good dialect for beginners?
Any dialect is a good choice for a beginner. Choose Connacht if you have a connection to Galway or Mayo, a teacher who speaks it, or you simply like the sound of it. You will still understand speakers of the other dialects.
Can I practise Connacht Irish with Gaeilgeoir?
Yes. When you speak with your tutor, choose Connacht as your dialect and pick the teacher you want to learn with.
Tosaigh Inniu
Practise Connacht Irish free for 3 days.
Speak with your tutor in Connacht Irish, with the teacher you choose, and learn the 1,000 most-used words in Irish along the way.
