Sa chlár seo de Gaeilge Thar Lear, féachaim siar ar 2025 agus cuirim ceist shimplí: cén sort bliain a bhí inti?

Ar ardán an domhain mhóir, bhí duine amháin chun tosaigh ar gach rud — ach mar a léigh mé uair amháin ar chomhartha i dtigh tábhairne in An Daingean: “No Trump Talk.” Mana maith le coinneáil i gcuimhne, dar liom.

Is ramall réamh-Nollag atá anseo, áit a labhraím faoi líon na n-éisteoirí le Gaeilge Thar Lear, roinnim libh na háiteanna ar fud an domhain as a mbíonn sibh ag éisteacht, agus déanaim machnamh ar chuid de bhuaicphointí pearsanta na bliana. An raibh 2025 ina bliain mhaith? Cén leabhar ab fhearr a léigh mé? Cad iad na podchraoltaí a raibh mé ag éisteacht leo i rith na bliana?

Taifeadadh an eipeasóid seo tar éis chlár na seachtaine seo chugainn, “Ag Féachaint Chun Cinn go 2026”, rud a bhí beagáinín ait. Taifeadadh go déanach san oíche í freisin, agus gan ach nótaí leathchríochnaithe agam, tar éis cúpla lá dúshlánach agus páistí tinn sa teach — ach sin é an saol (agus an phodchraoltóireacht!).

Cibé áit ina bhfuil sibh, tá súil agam go mbeidh Nollaig álainn agaibh agus go mbainfidh sibh taitneamh as an am a chaitheamh le cairde, le clann agus leo siúd is ansa libh.

Nollaig Shona,

Oisín

This episode of Gaeilge Thar Lear looks back at 2025 and asks a simple question: what kind of year was it?

On the world stage, one man seemed to dominate everything — but as a sign I once saw in a pub in An Daingean put it: “No Trump Talk.” A good mantra to keep in mind.

This is a pre-Christmas ramble where I talk through the listening figures for Gaeilge Thar Lear, share where in the world you’re all tuning in from, and reflect on some of my personal highlights from the year. Was 2025 a good year? What was the best book I read? Which podcasts did I spend the most time listening to?

This episode was recorded after next week’s “Looking Ahead to 2026” podcast, which made for a slightly strange experience. It was also recorded quite late and with only half-finished notes, following a few challenging days with sick children — but such is podcasting.

Wherever you are, I hope you have a lovely Christmas and get to enjoy some quality time with friends, family, and loved ones.

Nollaig Shona,

Oisín

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sa chlár seo de Gaeilge Thar Lear, labhraíonn Oisín le Ronán Ó Laoíre, Baile Átha Cliathach atá lonnaithe in Amstardam. Is saineolaí i bhforbairt bogearraí é Ronán, le taithí ar fhorbairt gréasáin, bainistíocht agus ról mar CTO, agus é tar éis obair le roinnt comhlachtaí móra san Ísiltír. Faoi láthair, tá sé ag forbairt ardán sóisialta nua don Ghaeilge darbh ainm Cogar.

Sa chomhrá seo, pléimid a óige le Gaeilge i mBaile Átha Cliath, an bogadh go hAmstardam ar feadh bliana – agus é fós ann naoi mbliana ina dhiaidh sin – a chait, a chomhpháirtí saoil, agus ar ndóigh, Cogar.

Bhí roinnt fadhbanna beaga leis an bhfuaim le linn an taifeadta, ach rinneadh gach iarracht iad a cheartú san eagrán deiridh. Má thugann sibh aon chur isteach ar an bhfuaim faoi deara, gabhaimid leithscéal – agus tá súil againn go mbainfidh sibh taitneamh as an gcomhrá seo le Ronán.

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In this episode of Gaeilge Thar Lear, Oisín speaks with Ronán O’Laoire, a Dubliner based in Amsterdam. Ronán is a software development expert with experience across web development, management, and CTO roles, having worked with several major companies in the Netherlands. He is currently developing a new social platform for Irish speakers called Cogar.

In this conversation, we talk about growing up in Dublin with Irish, moving to Amsterdam for what was meant to be a year and still being there nine years later, his cats, and, of course, Cogar.

There were a few minor audio issues with microphones during the recording, but these have been addressed as much as possible in the final edit. If you notice anything in the background, please accept my apologies in advance — and we hope you enjoy this conversation with Ronán.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sa chlár seo de Gaeilge Thar Lear, labhraíonn Oisín faoi na deiseanna móra nár shíl sé riamh a thiocfadh ina threo agus é ina chathaoirleach ar theilgean Chóilín na Coillíne. Deirtear gur dúirt Napoleon gur “fearr leis ginearál ádhúil ná ginearál maith”, agus is cosúil go raibh an t-ádh sin ag Oisín – mar le linn an ama sin bhí sé le feiceáil ar Nuacht RTÉ, Prime Time, teilifís náisiúnta na Gearmáine (ZDF), National Geographic, agus ar an sár-dhoiciméad ar TG4, Cluiche As Baile, le Jack agus Cian Desmond.

Cosúil le go leor eagráin eile, níl mórán pleanála ná nótaí taobh thiar den cheann seo – díreach comhrá saor, spontáineach. Seo an leagan Béarla-Gaeilge - dhátheangach..

Tá súil agam go mbainfidh sibh taitneamh as!

ZDF le Achim Winter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=EQ5nN7Q9j6s&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fcologneceltics.com%2F&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY

Cluiche as Baile Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMLl1WZHEws

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In this episode of Gaeilge Thar Lear, Oisín talks about some of the unexpected advantages that came his way during his time as chairperson of the Cologne Celtics — living proof of the quote often attributed to Napoleon: “I’d rather have a lucky general than a good one.”

During that period, Oisín somehow found himself on RTÉ News, Prime Time, German national television (ZDF), the National Geographic podcast, and a brilliant TG4 documentary called Cluiche As Baile, directed by Jack and Cian Desmond. You can find it on the TG4 Player - go watch it... stop what you're doing and go watch it now!

As with many episodes, this one is recorded with very little planning and not many notes — another loose, freestyle, free-flowing conversation. This is the Gaeilge-Béarla Bilingual version.

Hope you enjoy it! Bain sult as!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sa chlár seo de Gaeilge Thar Lear, labhraíonn Oisín faoi na deiseanna móra nár shíl sé riamh a thiocfadh ina threo agus é ina chathaoirleach ar theilgean Chóilín na Coillíne. Deirtear gur dúirt Napoleon gur “fearr leis ginearál ádhúil ná ginearál maith”, agus is cosúil go raibh an t-ádh sin ag Oisín – mar le linn an ama sin bhí sé le feiceáil ar Nuacht RTÉ, Prime Time, teilifís náisiúnta na Gearmáine, National Geographic, agus ar an sár-dhoiciméad ar TG4, Cluiche As Baile, le Jack agus Cian Desmond.

Cosúil le go leor eagráin eile, níl mórán pleanála ná nótaí taobh thiar den cheann seo – díreach comhrá saor, spontáineach. Seo an leagan lán-Gaeilge.

Tá súil agam go mbainfidh sibh taitneamh as!

ZDF le Achim Winter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=EQ5nN7Q9j6s&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fcologneceltics.com%2F&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY

Cluiche as Baile Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMLl1WZHEws

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In this episode of Gaeilge Thar Lear, Oisín talks about some of the unexpected advantages that came his way during his time as chairperson of the Cologne Celtics — living proof of the quote often attributed to Napoleon: “I’d rather have a lucky general than a good one.”

During that period, Oisín somehow found himself on RTÉ News, Prime Time, German national television, National Geographic, and a brilliant TG4 documentary called Cluiche As Baile, directed by Jack and Cian Desmond.

As with many episodes, this one is recorded with very little planning and not many notes — another loose, freestyle, free-flowing conversation. This is the fully Gaeilge version.

Hope you enjoy it! Bain sult as!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sa chlár seo de Gaeilge Thar Lear, breathnaím siar ar an saol a bhí agam sa Ghearmáin i mo 20í — tréimhse lán d’eachtraí, taisteal, cairde nua agus an tuiscint go raibh an domhan oscailte romham. Ansin cuirim é sin i gcomparáid leis na 30í, nuair a thagann an smaoineamh mór sin chugat: “seo é anois — seo mo shaol buan.”

Pléim an meascán casta sin de mhothúcháin: a bheith i bhfad ó bhaile, ó theaghlach agus ó sheanchairde, agus ag an am céanna a bheith sásta sa ghnáthshaol nua. Ach ní scéal rómánsúil é — tá na frustrachtaí ann freisin: an mothú go bhfuil tú beagáinín “greamaithe”, na paistí beaga a chuireann teorainn le spontaneity, agus na comharsana níos sine a chuireann isteach ort níos minice ná mar a chuireann siad chun suaimhnis thú.

Níl mórán struchtúir ar an gcaint seo — comhrá cineál “glao teileafóin” atá ann — ach tá súil agam go mbeidh sé macánta, in-insinte agus b'fhéidir fiú beagáinín eolach daoibh siúd atá ag tógáil saoil thar lear.

Seo an leagan Béarla-Gaeilge - dhátheangach. Bainigí taitneamh as!

In this episode of Gaeilge Thar Lear, I reflect on my life in Germany in my 20s — a time filled with adventure, travel, new friendships, and the feeling that everything was still open and possible. Then I contrast it with life in my 30s, when that big realisation arrives: “this is it now — this is my permanent life.”

I discuss the complex mix of emotions that come with being far from home, family, and old friends, while building a new life with its own rhythms and small joys. But it’s not all cosy routines — there’s plenty of frustration too: feeling held back, the limits that come with small children, and the realities of dealing with older neighbours who can sometimes be… less than easy.

This episode has no real plan — more of a free-flowing, phone-call-style chat — but hopefully it captures something real and recognisable about settling abroad.

This is the bilingual Irish-English version - Gaeilge-Béarla - Enjoy!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sa chlár seo de Gaeilge Thar Lear, breathnaím siar ar an saol a bhí agam sa Ghearmáin i mo 20í — tréimhse lán d’eachtraí, taisteal, cairde nua agus an tuiscint go raibh an domhan oscailte romham. Ansin cuirim é sin i gcomparáid leis na 30í, nuair a thagann an smaoineamh mór sin chugat: “seo é anois — seo mo shaol buan.”

Pléim an meascán casta sin de mhothúcháin: a bheith i bhfad ó bhaile, ó theaghlach agus ó sheanchairde, agus ag an am céanna a bheith sásta sa ghnáthshaol nua. Ach ní scéal rómánsúil é — tá na frustrachtaí ann freisin: an mothú go bhfuil tú beagáinín “greamaithe”, na paistí beaga a chuireann teorainn le spontaneity, agus na comharsana níos sine a chuireann isteach ort níos minice ná mar a chuireann siad chun suaimhnis thú.

Níl mórán struchtúir ar an gcaint seo — comhrá cineál “glao teileafóin” atá ann — ach tá súil agam go mbeidh sé macánta, in-insinte agus b'fhéidir fiú beagáinín eolach daoibh siúd atá ag tógáil saoil thar lear. Bainigí taitneamh as!

https://youtu.be/StCls7iEK_o?si=sNNRPhq9lEwdqjxp - "Why Ireland has no Outdoor Culture" - Kev Collins

In this episode of Gaeilge Thar Lear, I reflect on my life in Germany in my 20s — a time filled with adventure, travel, new friendships, and the feeling that everything was still open and possible. Then I contrast it with life in my 30s, when that big realisation arrives: “this is it now — this is my permanent life.”

I discuss the complex mix of emotions that come with being far from home, family, and old friends, while building a new life with its own rhythms and small joys. But it’s not all cosy routines — there’s plenty of frustration too: feeling held back, the limits that come with small children, and the realities of dealing with older neighbours who can sometimes be… less than easy.

This episode has no real plan — more of a free-flowing, phone-call-style chat — but hopefully it captures something real and recognisable about settling abroad. Enjoy!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

San eagrán seo de Gaeilge Thar Lear, táim ag insint scéalta faoi mo thaithí le beoir agus alcól sa Ghearmáin. Ó The Franciscan Well i gCorcaigh – an áit ar fhoghlaim mé go bhféadfadh beoir a bheith blasta – go mo chéad oíche dhíomách i Marburg, ó an beoir is fearr a d'ól mé riamh i München go mo thurnamh i nErlangen nuair a chaill mé mo chairde ag Bierfest... tá sé uilig anseo!

Pléim an difríocht chultúrtha idir an Ghearmáin agus Éire maidir le beoir – cén fáth a gceiliúrann na Gearmánaigh an táirge féin agus cén fáth a gceiliúraimid an craic a chruthaíonn sé. Tá an Reinheitsgebot, rivalries peile idir Dortmund agus Gelsenkirchen, agus an nóiméad i nDortmund nuair a thuig mé go raibh mé ag éirí níos sine.

Más maith leat scéalta faoi dhisasters Erasmus, cultúr na beorach, nó an t-aistear ó bheith 21 go duine nach n-ólann mórán sa lá atá inniu ann – éist leis seo!

Seo an leagan dhátheangach Béarla-Gaeilge. Bain sult as!

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Beer and Alcohol in Germany

In this episode of Gaeilge Thar Lear, I'm sharing stories about my experiences with beer and alcohol in Germany. From The Franciscan Well in Cork – where I learned that beer could actually taste good – to my disappointing first night in Marburg, from the best beer I ever had at Brauhaus Augustiner in Munich to my complete disaster in Erlangen when I lost my friends at a Bierfest... it's all here!

I explore the cultural differences between Germany and Ireland when it comes to beer – why Germans celebrate the product itself and why we celebrate the craic it creates. There's the Reinheitsgebot (Beer Purity Law), football rivalries between Dortmund and Gelsenkirchen, and the moment in Dortmund when I realised I was getting older.

If you enjoy stories about Erasmus disasters, beer culture, or the journey from being 21 to someone who doesn't drink much these days – give this a listen!

This is the bilingual English-Gaeilge version. Enjoy it!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

San eagrán seo de Gaeilge Thar Lear, táim ag insint scéalta faoi mo thaithí le beoir agus alcól sa Ghearmáin. Ó The Franciscan Well i gCorcaigh – an áit ar fhoghlaim mé go bhféadfadh beoir a bheith blasta – go mo chéad oíche dhíomách i Marburg, ó an beoir is fearr a d'ól mé riamh i mBrauhaus Augustiner München go mo thurnamh i nErlangen nuair a chaill mé mo chairde ag Bierfest... tá sé uilig anseo!

Pléim an difríocht chultúrtha idir an Ghearmáin agus Éire maidir le beoir – cén fáth a gceiliúrann na Gearmánaigh an táirge féin agus cén fáth a gceiliúraimid an craic a chruthaíonn sé. Tá an Reinheitsgebot, rivalries peile idir Dortmund agus Gelsenkirchen, agus an nóiméad i nDortmund nuair a thuig mé go raibh mé ag éirí níos sine.

Más maith leat scéalta faoi dhisasters Erasmus, cultúr na beorach, nó an t-aistear ó bheith 21 go duine nach n-ólann mórán sa lá atá inniu ann – éist leis seo!

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Beer and Alcohol in Germany

In this episode of Gaeilge Thar Lear, I'm sharing stories about my experiences with beer and alcohol in Germany. From The Franciscan Well in Cork – where I learned that beer could actually taste good – to my disappointing first night in Marburg, from the best beer I ever had at Brauhaus Augustiner in Munich to my complete disaster in Erlangen when I lost my friends at a Bierfest... it's all here!

I explore the cultural differences between Germany and Ireland when it comes to beer – why Germans celebrate the product itself and why we celebrate the craic it creates. There's the Reinheitsgebot (Beer Purity Law), football rivalries between Dortmund and Gelsenkirchen, and the moment in Dortmund when I realized I was getting older.

If you enjoy stories about Erasmus disasters, beer culture, or the journey from being 21 to someone who doesn't drink much these days – give this a listen!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

San eagrán seo de Gaeilge Thar Lear, taistealaíonn Oisín ar ais go Deireadh Fómhair 2022 nuair a “bhuaigh” iománaithe an Cologne Celtics ar St. Finbarr's go "cáiliúil" i bPáirc Uí Chaoimh. Scéal é seo faoi conas caidrimh a chruthú mar chlub CLG thar lear leis na daoine sa bhaile, agus faoin gcaoi ar tháinig an turas ar cheann dár gcuid eachtraí club is fearr. Bhí Oisín ina chathaoirleach ar an Celtics ag an am agus bhí baint lárnach aige le heagrú an turais.

Seo é an leagan Béarla-Gaeilge - this is the bilingual English-Irish version.

Más mian leat tuilleadh a léamh faoin turas go Corcaigh, is féidir leat an t-alt seo a léamh ar shuíomh gréasáin an Cologne Celtics: https://cologneceltics.com/2022/10/06/cork-trip-october-2022-club-report/

Is féidir leat mo thuairisc chluiche ar an gcluiche a léamh anseo freisin: https://cologneceltics.com/2022/10/27/october-3rd-2022-cologne-celtics-v-st-finbarrs-the-player-experience/

Thosaigh mé tionscadal nua chomh maith — mo bhlag féin don chraic — agus is féidir nasc leis a fháil anseo: https://oisinomahony.blog/

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In this episode (eagrán) of Gaeilge Thar Lear, Oisín travels back in time to October 2022 when the hurlers from the Cologne Celtics famously "beat" St. Finbarr's at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. This story is about how to create relationships as a GAA club abroad with those at home, and how the trip became one of our best outings as a club. Oisín was chairperson of the Celtics at the time of the trip and was centrally involved with its organisation.

Seo é an leagan Béarla-Gaeilge - this is the bilingual English-Irish version.

If you want to read more about the Cork trip, you can read this article from the Cologne Celtics website: https://cologneceltics.com/2022/10/06/cork-trip-october-2022-club-report/

You can also read my match report of the game here: https://cologneceltics.com/2022/10/27/october-3rd-2022-cologne-celtics-v-st-finbarrs-the-player-experience/

I have also started a new project, my own blog for the craic - you can find a link to it here: https://oisinomahony.blog/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

San eagrán seo de Gaeilge Thar Lear, taistealaíonn Oisín ar ais go Deireadh Fómhair 2022 nuair a “bhuaigh” iománaithe an Cologne Celtics ar St. Finbarr's go "cáiliúil" i bPáirc Uí Chaoimh. Scéal é seo faoi conas caidrimh a chruthú mar chlub CLG thar lear leis na daoine sa bhaile, agus faoin gcaoi ar tháinig an turas ar cheann dár gcuid eachtraí club is fearr. Bhí Oisín ina chathaoirleach ar an Celtics ag an am agus bhí baint lárnach aige le heagrú an turais.

Más mian leat tuilleadh a léamh faoin turas go Corcaigh, is féidir leat an t-alt seo a léamh ar shuíomh gréasáin an Cologne Celtics: https://cologneceltics.com/2022/10/06/cork-trip-october-2022-club-report/

Is féidir leat mo thuairisc chluiche ar an gcluiche a léamh anseo freisin: https://cologneceltics.com/2022/10/27/october-3rd-2022-cologne-celtics-v-st-finbarrs-the-player-experience/

Thosaigh mé tionscadal nua chomh maith — mo bhlag féin don chraic — agus is féidir nasc leis a fháil anseo: https://oisinomahony.blog/

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

In this episode (eagrán) of Gaeilge Thar Lear, Oisín travels back in time to October 2022 when the hurlers from the Cologne Celtics famously "beat" St. Finbarr's at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. This story is about how to create relationships as a GAA club abroad with those at home, and how the trip became one of our best outings as a club. Oisín was chairperson of the Celtics at the time of the trip and was centrally involved with its organisation.

If you want to read more about the Cork trip, you can read this article from the Cologne Celtics website: https://cologneceltics.com/2022/10/06/cork-trip-october-2022-club-report/

You can also read my match report of the game here: https://cologneceltics.com/2022/10/27/october-3rd-2022-cologne-celtics-v-st-finbarrs-the-player-experience/

I have also started a new project, my own blog for the craic - you can find a link to it here: https://oisinomahony.blog/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.