Irish Dialects · Gaeilge na Mumhan
Munster Irish: the Gaeilge of Kerry, Cork, Waterford.
Munster Irish (Gaeilge na Mumhan) is spoken in the Gaeltacht areas of Kerry, Cork and Waterford, and is the Irish of the famous Blasket Island writers.
Gaeltacht areas in Kerry, Cork & Waterford Conas atá tú? Choose Munster with your tutor
Where It Is Spoken
Where Munster Irish is spoken.
Munster Irish lives in the Gaeltacht areas of three counties, from the peninsulas of Kerry to the coast of Waterford.
Ciarraí
Co. Kerry
- Corca Dhuibhne
- Uíbh Ráthach
The Gaeltacht of the Dingle Peninsula (Corca Dhuibhne) and the Iveragh Peninsula (Uíbh Ráthach). The nearby Blasket Islands gave us classic memoirs such as Tomás Ó Criomhthain’s An tOileánach.
Corcaigh
Co. Cork
- Múscraí
- Oileán Chléire
Múscraí (Muskerry), in the hills west of Cork city, and the island of Oileán Chléire (Cape Clear) off the south-west coast.
Port Láirge
Co. Waterford
- An Rinn
- An Sean Phobal
Gaeltacht na nDéise, on the coast near Dungarvan: a small Gaeltacht and the only one in the south-east.
How to Recognise It
What makes Munster Irish sound like Munster.
Four features you will notice quickly once you start listening.
01
A greeting of its own
Munster asks “how are you?” with conas, the word for “how”.
Conas atá tú? How are you?
02
Stress that moves
When a later syllable has a long vowel, Munster speakers often stress that syllable instead of the first.
cailín “girl”: said cal-EEN
03
Táim, bhíos: person in the ending
Munster keeps more verb forms that include the person in the ending, where other dialects add a separate pronoun.
Bhíos ann inné. I was there yesterday.
04
Cad for “what”, and Gaelainn
Munster says cad for “what”, and calls the language itself Gaelainn.
Cad is ainm duit? What is your name?
Phrases to Try
Everyday Munster Irish.
A first handful of phrases, with a note on which ones are Munster forms and which you will hear everywhere.
- Dia duit! Hello! Used everywhere
- Conas atá tú? How are you? Munster form
- Táim go maith, go raibh maith agat. I’m well, thank you. Munster form
- Cad is ainm duit? What is your name? Munster form
- An-mhaith! Very good! Also used in Connacht
- Slán! Goodbye! Used everywhere
Compared With the Other Dialects
Munster side by side.
The same everyday words across all three dialects, with Munster 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 Munster Irish
Speak Munster Irish with your tutor.
When you speak with your tutor on Gaeilgeoir, choose Munster as your dialect and pick the teacher you want to learn with. Then practise everyday conversations out loud.
- Choose Munster 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: Munster ▾
Dia duit! Conas atá tú? Hello! How are you?
Táim 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 Munster is the one you speak.
Gaeilge Chonnacht
Connacht Irish
Spoken in the Gaeltacht areas of Galway and Mayo, and in Ráth Chairn in Co. Meath.
- Conamara
- Oileáin Árann
- Iorras
- Acaill
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
Munster Irish, answered.
Common questions about Munster Irish and how to practise it.
Where is Munster Irish spoken?
In the Gaeltacht areas of Co. Kerry (Corca Dhuibhne and Uíbh Ráthach), Co. Cork (Múscraí and Oileán Chléire) and Co. Waterford (An Rinn and An Sean Phobal, known together as Gaeltacht na nDéise).
How do you say “How are you?” in Munster Irish?
Conas atá tú? A common reply is Táim go maith, go raibh maith agat (I’m well, thank you).
What makes Munster Irish different?
Recognisable features include Conas atá tú? for “how are you?”, stress that can fall on a later long syllable (as in cailín), verb forms such as táim and bhíos that include the person in the ending, and Gaelainn as the name of the language.
Is Munster Irish a good dialect for beginners?
Any dialect is a good choice for a beginner. Choose Munster if you have a connection to Kerry, Cork or Waterford, 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 Munster Irish with Gaeilgeoir?
Yes. When you speak with your tutor, choose Munster as your dialect and pick the teacher you want to learn with.
Tosaigh Inniu
Practise Munster Irish free for 3 days.
Speak with your tutor in Munster Irish, with the teacher you choose, and learn the 1,000 most-used words in Irish along the way.
