Plé agus Tae Irish Conversation Group, Tullow

What to Expect

Plé agus Tae, which translates roughly as chat and tea, is a weekly Irish language conversation group that meets at Teach Bhride in Tullow every Tuesday at 11am. The parish newsletter carries a standing notice that the group continues, with the welcome extended to everyone: fáilte go gach duine.

Conversation circles like this exist to solve a specific problem. Plenty of people in Carlow have school Irish they have not used in decades and no low pressure setting in which to try it again. A weekly hour with tea, no exam and no correction is the standard remedy, and it works. Groups of this kind usually mix fluent speakers with people whose Irish is rusty, and the fluent speakers pitch the conversation to whoever is in the room.

Teach Bhride is a spirituality and ecology centre in Tullow run by the Brigidine Sisters, and it hosts a range of community groups alongside its own programme.

Good to Know

• When: every Tuesday at 11am.
• Venue: Teach Bhride, Tullow, Co. Carlow.
• All levels of Irish are welcome, from fluent to very rusty.
• The group is publicised through the Tullow, Grange and Ardattin parish newsletter as an ongoing weekly meeting rather than a fixed term course.
• Contact the Tullow parish office on 059 915 1277 or Teach Bhride directly to confirm the group is running before your first visit, as community groups in Tullow often pause for holidays.
• If you would prefer a structured course, Carlow libraries also run a free six week Basic Digital Skills programme with KCETB Community Education at the Carlow, Tullow and Muinebheag branches.

Getting There

Tullow is about 15km east of Carlow town, reached on the N80 and R725 from Carlow or on the N81 running south from Dublin through Blessington and Baltinglass. From the M9, leave at junction 4 for Castledermot or junction 5 for Carlow and cross on the N80. Teach Bhride is on the edge of Tullow town with parking on site. Tullow town centre has free public parking a short walk away. There is no rail service to Tullow; the nearest station is Carlow, on the Dublin Heuston to Waterford line, with local bus connections into the town.