Fòram na Gàidhlig

Hello everyone.

Once, many, many moons ago while at University some friends and I took a weekend conversational Gaelic course with great intentions of learning the language to a fair level. As with most great, youthful intentions, sadly it fell by the wayside.

Now more than a few years later, I find myself settlled south of the border, with an English Rose as my wife and two little ones (both of whom were given good Scottish names, one a full-on Gaelic name that will test his English friends and teachers in years to come!). We thought that as they will grow up in the Home Counties they should have something to anchor the Scottish side of their roots, to be fair to our daughter she danced every tune, proper steps and all, at my parents' recent ceilidh out performing all the adults!

All this has reawakened the desire to learn at least a little Gaelic, maybe to teach them in years to come, maybe just for fun, I don't really know, but what I do know is that I'm hardly likely to bump into many other speakers in my local pub on whom to practise! So I'm very glad to find such a resource as this, I'm also really glad to note that it's a beginner friendly place!

So the long winded question then. One of my passions is craft beer. Both the consumption and brewing. So when our little boy made his appearance a few short weeks ago I felt it was only right to embark on a project to create a new beer for him (secure in the knowledge that I have many years to get it just right before he gets any!) and of course every beer needs a name. "Ruairidh's Ale" was just a little twee so I've tried to find out the Gaelic. I've got as far as "leann á Ruairidh". Is that anywhere close to correct?

Thanks

C

Fàilte air ais!

Welcome back (to Gaelic)!

You don't need the 'a' - Leann Ruairidh is OK as it is.

The name Ruairidh is the same in the basic ('Nominative') form and in the possessive ('Genitive'). So Ruairidh can mean 'Ruairidh' OR 'of Ruairidh / Ruairidh's'.

Your own name would change in the Genitive, from Calum to Chaluim, so Calum's Beer would be 'Leann Chaluim'.

So you gave your son a useful name (and a very nice one).

Fàilte!

Have a look at the "Goireasan" link on top of this page, it has useful links to get you started.

Thank you both!

I took a quick look at the BBC's course and that looks really good to just get started, relearning the sounds and a few words and phrases.

I know I also have a copy of the cartoon learning book "Gaelic is Fun" in the loft, that will come down as soon as I locate the box.

So I don't make too many forum mistakes, is it the bilingual forum where I go for a bit if practise?

Yes, the bilingual and games sections are best for practising. You are welcome to join the other conversations though