Léamh
If there is one thing I have learned from running Gael Chords, it is that I am very good at breaking my own website. I have rebuilt it more than once, usually after making such a mess of the pages and menus that I could not even find my own resources anymore. At one point my homepage was called Aistriúchán for no reason other than I had renamed and overwritten it so many times.
This new version of the site is another fresh start, but I think it is my cleanest yet. I have stripped things back, given each section a proper home, and tried to make it easy for anyone to find what they are looking for.
It is not perfect. I am sure I will still tweak and tidy it as I go, but I wanted to share the process honestly. Gael Chords is not some polished, corporate platform. It is me experimenting, rebuilding, and learning as I go.
Léamh
One of the easiest ways to keep páistí engaged is through play. It does not have to be complicated. Sometimes a two-minute game in the middle of a lesson can reset the energy of the whole class.
I started making and collecting simple Gaeilge games because I noticed how quickly páistí switched on when the learning turned playful. Whether it is a word puzzle, a grammar challenge, or something active to get them moving, games make Irish feel less like “work” and more like fun.
That is why you will find a whole Cluichí section here on Gael Chords. From quick brain breaks to interactive digital games, these are things I use myself and that any teacher can drop straight into their lessons.
A few favourites from the Cluichí hub:
Foclach – the Irish version of Wordle, perfect for daily vocab.
Litreach – practice spelling in Irish using different dialects.
Fir nó Bain? – quick-fire gender game for Irish nouns (also made by GaelChords!)
Na Contaetha – map challenge where you find Irish counties as fast as possible. (also made by GaelChords!)
World Guesser – use street signs, landscapes, and clues to figure out where you are.
Rebus Puzzles – solve word riddles using pictures and symbols.
The best part is that the páistí do not even realise how much Gaeilge they are practicing while they play.
Léamh
Music has never really been part of who I am up until about two years ago. I never expected it to blend so naturally with my teaching. When I first brought my guitar into class, it wasn’t because I thought I was some great musician. Far from it. The guitar was out of tune half the time, the chords buzzed, and the strumming pattern was very much optional. But it didn’t matter. The páistí didn’t care.
What mattered was the energy. A simple chord progression and a familiar tune can change everything. Suddenly, a grammar rule or a tricky phrase sticks because it’s connected to a rhythm or a melody. Even the shyest páiste in the room will sometimes sing before they’ll speak.
That connection is a big part of why Gael Chords exists. It is not just about worksheets or translations, but about finding ways for Gaeilge to feel alive. For me, music is one of the best ways to do that.
You will still see plenty of songs here, from translations to original tracks, and I hope they can bring the same spark to your class or your own learning that they brought to mine.
Léamh
From the very beginning, Gael Chords was never about money (Not to sound like one of those dramatic “I do it all for the art” types, but it’s true!)
When I first started uploading Irish song translations and grammar notes, it was simply to share with classmates and other teachers who asked for them.
I went through a period of having them listed on the website for a Euro or two but it never felt right to me and ended up dropping them to a couple of cent before ultimately deciding to have them completely free.
Since then, the site has grown into a full library of teaching resources, grammar courses, games, and music. I want these to be free and accessible to anyone who needs them.
Teaching is tough enough without having to worry about paying for every worksheet or activity. I know from my own experience as a student teacher in Hibernia and indeed as an NQT now in classrooms that sometimes you just need something quick and practical, and it makes a difference when it is freely available.
That is why the resources here will always be free. The Siopa is simply a small way to help support that. Every hoodie or t-shirt bought helps me keep the site running and the resources open for teachers, páistí, and Gaeilgeoirí everywhere.
Go raibh míle maith agat for being part of the journey and for helping keep this space alive.
Léamh
When I began my Master’s in Primary Education with Hibernia, I knew Irish was always going to play a big role in my teaching. Most of my subbing and school placements were in Gaelscoileanna, and I noticed something: in music lessons, the same songs were coming up again and again.
We sang classics like Peigín Litir Mór, Tóg Amach Mé, and Óró, Sé do Bheatha ’Bhaile. They are all great songs, but after a while they felt a little stale. More importantly, many of the páistí weren’t really connecting with them.
I thought to myself, what if I could bring in songs they already knew and loved, but in Irish? That way they would feel more excited and see the language as part of their everyday world.
So I started translating popular songs into Irish, keeping the guitar chords alongside them so I could play along in class. Honestly, it wasn’t meant to be anything more than a teaching tool for myself. But when I mentioned it to classmates in Hibernia, they wanted to see the songs too.
That is how Gael Chords began. It was not a business plan or a big project. It was simply a free Google Site where I uploaded my translations with chords so my friends and fellow teachers could access them.
And that is why you will still find translations and chords here today, free for teachers, learners, and anyone who wants to bring a little more Gaeilge into their music.
Léamh
Is mise Rhys, bunaitheoir Gael Chords.
A little about me (not that anyone asked)
I actually started out studying History and English in Maynooth University. After that, I went abroad and taught in Dubai, UAE. It was there that I realised how much I loved teaching, but I also felt something was missing. Irish was absent from my teaching, and of course, there was no opportunity to practice or teach Gaeilge over there. That was a big moment for me. I knew when I came home I wanted Irish to be central to what I did.
So when I returned, I applied for Hibernia’s PME programme. I failed the first interview but got accepted with the Autumn intake the second time around! Those two years were turbulent but also incredibly rewarding. School placements were stressful, tough, and challenging, but they taught me almost everything I know about teaching today.
When I started with Hibernia, I also decided to bite the bullet and buy a guitar. I had thought long and hard about what kind of teacher I wanted to be. I knew I wasn’t going to be the “Art teacher.” While I liked sports, I wasn’t keen enough to be the “Sporty teacher.” And with absolutely no background in music, it’s honestly a wonder how I ever decided that was the route I’d take. But here we are.
That decision to pick up the guitar changed so much. It shaped how I taught, it led to translating songs into Irish, and it eventually grew into what Gael Chords is today.
Right now, I’m working in the Midlands in a Gaelscoil, and Gael Chords is something I continue to build alongside my teaching. It is a space where I can share resources, music, and ideas that might make Gaeilge a little more fun and a little easier to bring into classrooms.
If you’ve found something useful here, go raibh maith agat. You’re the reason I keep it going
Léamh
Fáilte! 👋
I’m really excited to finally share the refreshed Gael Chords website with you. Over the past while, I’ve been working on giving the site a clearer structure so it’s easier to find what you’re looking for, whether that’s teaching resources, music, or just a cúpla focal through play.
What’s new?
Foghlaim Hub – a one-stop space for free teaching resources, games, and classroom activities, all organised by subject.
Ceol Hub – our music brought together in one place: original songs, Spotify links, and singable translations with chords.
Siopa – a small merch corner (hoodies, tees, etc.) where every purchase helps keep all the resources free for teachers and páistí.
Blog – this very page! A space where I’ll share updates, new resources, music news, and maybe even a peek behind the scenes.
Why the change?
The aim of Gael Chords has always been simple: to make Gaeilge more fun, more musical, and more accessible. This update is all about keeping things free, easy to use, and friendly for teachers, learners, and anyone with an interest in the language.
Thank you
Thanks for sticking with Gael Chords; whether you’ve downloaded a resource, listened to a song, or supported through the Siopa. I’m looking forward to sharing lots more in the weeks and months ahead.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh,
Rhys