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Catherine Geaney
snapshot

11 illustrations by Irish artist Catherine Geaney to reignite your love of Gaeilge

How much do you *really* remember from school?

IF THE ONLY Irish words you remember learning in school are “an bhfuil cead agam dul go dtí an leithreas?”, this Dublin-based illustrator is here to help.

After living in Japan for two years, Catherine Geaney “was always embarrassed” when someone would ask her to translate something into Irish. 

Since moving back to Ireland, Catherine says she “loved seeing the cultural change in attitude to Irish.” “There’s more content available and it’s way more interesting than school,” she told TheJournal.ie. 

Last summer, Catherine started illustrating words and phrases in Irish that she found interesting “as a way to reconnect with the Irish language.”

“I was inspired by Darach Ó Séaghda’s podcast Mother Foclóir to forget the fear and have fun with Irish and it has grown into something I love exploring every day.”

Catherine shares her illustrations on Instagram, while her prints are available to buy on Etsy

1. You never know when you’ll need the Irish for ‘jellyfish’

smugairle-roin_jellyfish Catherine Geaney Catherine Geaney

2. … or ‘fox’

sionnach_fox Catherine Geaney Catherine Geaney

3. A question we know too well…

riteoga_tights Catherine Geaney Catherine Geaney

4. A sweet message

oiruint-da-cheile_belong-together Catherine Geaney Catherine Geaney

5. The good stuff

leann-dubh_stout Catherine Geaney Catherine Geaney

6. ‘The short days in dead of winter’

gearoga_short-days Catherine Geaney Catherine Geaney

7. ‘As boastful as a shop cat’

gaisciul_boastful Catherine Geaney Catherine Geaney

8. How we all feel as January comes to an end

dubh-doite_bored Catherine Geaney Catherine Geaney

9. How to start every day…

caife_coffee Catherine Geaney Catherine Geaney

10. The little insects that we have to protect

bumbog_bumblebee Catherine Geaney Catherine Geaney

11. The best part of Halloween

breageadach_fancydress Catherine Geaney Catherine Geaney

More: 9 of the most enchanting fairy woods to explore around the country

More: 14 of the most eye-catching painted electrical boxes around Dublin

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