As the new year gets underway, a lot of people are thinking about taking up something new - and for many, that means finally giving Irish another go, or finding ways to bring it back into their lives. 

It also feels like Irish has had a big year - from artists like Kneecap bringing the language to a global audience, to Irish taking centre stage in political campaigns and public protests, and a growing surge of interest in Irish language courses right across the country. 

Eamon from Gaelgoir Guides joins Valerie to chat about where the language is now, where it’s going, and to share some practical advice for anyone hoping to learn or improve their Irish in 2026.