Understand and Speak Irish Naturally Through the Power of
Storytelling
Join the Bódléar Summer Challenge: Immerse yourself in authentic Irish literature with native audio, and transform your comprehension and pronunciation in just 15 minutes every other day.
Register Now
Bódléar:
A Summer Listening and Reading Challenge
Train your ear; develop an enjoyable and convenient learning routine and feel more connected to Irish language and culture.
Here's why learning Irish can be frustrating:
Reading in Irish is hard work
Children's books are one thing, but reading a 'real' book is tedious and takes a lot of effort.
Listening to native Irish is difficult
Listening to native Irish spoken at regular speed just feels like a blur!
Progress is slow and labourious
Without consistency and a short daily routine it is hard to make real progress in Irish.
Feeling alone and frustrated
Learning Irish on your own can be frustrating and not much fun.
What If There Was An Easier and More Enjoyable Way?
Listen Up Irish is a unique learning method for Irish learners that uses real, authentic Irish literature, paired with native audio recordings and bilingual support materials.
Bódléar is the first course from Listen Up Irish, combining an award-winning novel with guided listening to help you build a sustainable habit and gain real understanding of native Irish — in just 15 minutes every other day.
No more leaving books unread or not getting past chaper 3, that's all about to change with the Listen Up Irish method!
Join Us For The Challenge
Bódléar:
A Summer Listening And Reading Challenge
Bódléar is quite simply a great story. The title of the novel is a nod to the famous French poet Charles Baudelaire, yet the cover features another French writer Honoré de Balzac — right beside Galway Bay! A strange mix? That's part of the fun!
Set in a fictional village on the west coast of Ireland, this comic, lyrical novel follows the local poet as he returns from a poetry gathering in the south of Ireland, in a foul humour, with his head full of radical new ideas.
From now on, he will compose “new poetry, truer poetry!” he says. But when his new “rhymeless and toneless” poems are heard, the locals are horrified.
We chose Bódléar for this course because it’s rich in lively Irish, and is a great story full of humour. It’s light enough for summer reading, yet it also explores themes of change, creativity, and identity.
It’s not just a great novel — it’s also a joy to listen to, and the perfect text to guide you deeper into the rhythm, wit, and soul of the Irish language.
Every part of this course — the recordings, the summaries, the vocabulary breakdowns, the structure — has been carefully crafted to bring you something truly authentic — not watered-down learner content, but real authentic contemporary Irish literature.
“This is a beautiful and miraculous work in which a marriage is made between literature and humanity, eternal truth and fleeting history. The author brings Irish and French together harmoniously, and manages to give a few digs to today’s poets along the way, which is not a bad thing at all.”
Aifric Mac Aodha
"Ar an gcósta thiar, ar ghiodán talún crochta idir sliabh is cladach a mhaireann muintir an Bhaile Bhig - fir farraige a bhaineann an féar sa bhfómhar, fir sléibhe a sheolann luchtanna móna thar sáile, agus mná a bhfuil gearradh is feannadh iontu. Míle bóthair soir siar atá idir dhá cheann an bhaile, trí bhuille sciatháin ó mhullach sléibhe go híochtar trá."
On the west coast, on a scrap of land hanging between mountain and shore the people of Ballybeg live - seamen who harvest the hay in autumn, mountain men who ship loads of turf across the seas, and sharp tongued women. One mile of road stretches east to west between the two ends of the town, three wingbeats from the mountain top to the beach at low tide.
Irish Learning — Made Effortless
We’ve made everything about this course simple — so you can spend your time enjoying the story, not figuring out how to begin.
Book Delivered To Your Door
No printing, no searching. You’ll receive a beautiful, physical copy of Bódléar straight to your letterbox — ready to read and listen along.
Learn Anytime Anywhere
Access the course online from your laptop or phone. Use the free app to listen on the go — at your desk, or out for a walk.
Regular Gentle Reminders
You’ll get an email every two days when your next chapter is released — a friendly nudge to stay consistent without overwhelm.
You'll Notice the Progress
After Just One Chapter
You don’t need to wait weeks to notice results. With each short chapter of Bódléar, you’ll hear authentic Irish, pick up new vocabulary, and get clear explanations — all in just 15 to 20 minutes every other day.
From the very first session, you’ll:
✅ Train your ear to understand native pronunciation
✅ Learn phrases you can reuse in daily conversation
✅ Feel more confident returning to the next chapter
Step 1
Listen to the story (read by Joe, a native speaker from South Connemara).
Step 2
Follow along with ease using the parallel bilingual text.
Step 3
Reinforce learning with extra video and audio resources.
In just 15 to 20 minutes every other day, you’ll train your ear to the sound of natural Irish, strengthen your vocabulary, and start speaking with more ease—no textbook required.
What If You Could Understand Irish with Ease and Confidence?
You’re no longer stuck in the cycle of overwhelm and slow progress. You’ve built a steady habit. You’re listening to native Irish and actually getting it.
Struggle to Ease
Reading in Irish no longer feels like a chore. You move through each chapter with ease, understanding more easily each day.
Guesswork to Understanding
Native Irish becomes clearer every day. You’ve a keener awareness of the correct sounds and rhythm of Irish.
Stuck to Steady Progress
No more stop-start studying. You’ve built a rhythm, a learning habit, and real momentum — just 15 minutes every other day.
Your Guides on This Summer Challenge
Learning a language is easier (and more enjoyable) when you trust the people guiding you. This course was created by a team of educators, publishers, and native speakers dedicated to helping you succeed.
Darach Ó Scolaí
An acclaimed Irish-language novelist, playwright, and publisher, Darach is known for his richly crafted historical fiction, for which he has won many awards. He is a founding director of Leabhar Breac, a prominent Irish-language publishing house. Ó Scolaí plays a significant role in promoting Irish literature and culture.
Patricia Nic Eoin
Patricia is a co-founder of Listen Up Irish and also the founder of All About Irish. She has worked at the European Commission in Brussels as an Irish language translator and has written her own series of children's books in Irish. She has also translated many children's books from English and French to Irish.
Joe Ó Fátharta
A native Irish speaker from Indreabhán in Co. Galway, Joe is a co-founder of Listen Up Irish. He is an honours graduate of the Irish Studies programme at the University of Galway. Joe has worked on the long-running Irish language soap Ros na Rún and currently teaches Irish at Dublin City University.
And There Are
Amazing Bonuses
Not only does the course include a hardback copy of the book delivered to your door; high quality audio recordings for each chapter; support material in audio, text and video format and full support this Summer Challenge also includes the following bonuses:
Starter Live Session
Attend a live session on zoom with Patricia and Joe on Sunday 13th July; meet others also taking the course; get tips on how to get the most out of the course and get yourself off to the best start!
Midway Live Session
By the time of the midway live session on August 7th you'll be flying through the book and enjoying each new chapter. Join Patricia and Joe and hear from others also taking the course
Q & A with the author
You know that feeling of finishing a book but needing to talk about it! You're guaranteed to have that after Bódléar! Which is why we've scheduled a Q&A with the author on September 7th.
All the Support You Need
— in One Enjoyable, Easy-to-Follow Course
We’ve built this course based on our knowledge of what Irish learners need most: structure, simplicity, and enjoyable content that will keep you coming back for more!
Here’s what you get when you join:
✅ Authentic Content
No stiff, artificial “learner dialogues.” You’ll be listening to real Irish storytelling with heart, rhythm, and cultural depth. The book is included with the course and will be delivered to your door.
✅ Native Speaker Audio
Hear how Irish is really spoken — and improve your own listening and pronunciation naturally.
✅ Bilingual Text Downloads
No flipping through a dictionary. Each chapter is accompanied by a parallel text, side-by-side in Irish and English, that you can print off so you can follow with ease.
✅ Supporting Materials
Never feel lost. Chapter summaries, cultural background, and explanations help you fully grasp what’s happening.
✅ Highlighted Vocabulary
We point out key words, useful phrases, and idiomatic expressions that you can use in everyday Irish conversation.
✅ Built-In Repetition
Important terms and language patterns are reinforced in smart, spaced ways — helping them stick for the long term.
✅ Consistent, Gentle Progress
One short chapter is released every second day — keeping you engaged without overwhelm. (There are 30 chapters in total).
✅ Short, Focused Lessons
Just 15–20 minutes per session. Perfect for busy people who want to make steady progress.
✅ Learn On the Go
Use the free app to listen while walking, commuting, or relaxing. Learn wherever you are.
Enjoy the Story — We’ll Do the Hard Work!
You get to enjoy a great Irish book while we handle all the prep, breakdown, and support materials.
What Others Have Said
About Our Courses
Although Bódléar is the very FIRST course from Listen Up Irish Joe and Patricia have previously worked together on other courses: 'Learn Irish Through Literature' and 'Learn Irish Through Poetry'. Here's what others have said about those courses:
"I really enjoyed the live sessions, and it was so interesting to hear other, completely different opinions on the pieces in the Learn Irish Through Literature course. It made the passages really come alive, discussing them with others in Ireland and all over the world, and encouraged me greatly to continue my efforts to use Irish as much as I can."
Éadaoin Ní Challaráin, Sligo
"I've taken three on-line courses from Patricia Nic Eoin and all have been excellent. Most recently I really loved the poetry course with Joe Ó Fátharta. The recordings were absolutely beautiful and so enjoyable to listen to. The course material is well prepared and presented in a clear, understandable style. Patricia and Joe are very personable. They work well with students and put everyone at ease. I cannot recommend their courses highly enough."
Eric Funston, Ohio
"I found the Learn Irish Through Poetry course absolutely brilliant. It was both challenging and enjoyable and I feel like I've learned a great deal about the language from this course."
Lynn Feyk, Florida
"This was a great way to learn the language and culture all at once. I’d certainly do it again."
Mike Madden, Wisconsin
"Listening to spoken Irish and processing it in my pea brain is always challenging, so having the bilingual summaries and vocab by Patricia and the readings by Joe are helping me overcome that. The course was so enjoyable and learning felt effortless."
Kelly Smith Moore, Virginia
"I've just completed the Learning Irish Through Poetry course. I found myself captivated by this thoroughly immersive experience. It's an innovative and compelling encounter with modern Irish poetry, and completely accessible for new learners like me."
Richard Barrett, Los Angeles
"I found the Learn Irish Through Literature course an excellent way to advance my learning of Irish. I especially liked how phrases from the passages were explained and shown in use in other contexts."
Tommy Roddy, Galway
"Irish language literature may seem a little daunting when you feel your Irish is far from fluent. But Patricia and Joe have devised a wonderful course which enables learners of all levels to access great pieces of writing in the Irish language. Along with the excepts, summaries, vocabulary lists and recordings are provided to assist you in your reading and comprehension. Highly recommended!"
Sheena Malone, Kildare
"Both of the courses in the Learn Irish Through Literature series (Poetry and Prose) have audio narrations of the texts by Joe Ó Fátharta, a native speaker of the Connacht dialect. He has a beautiful voice and a gorgeous blas, and his narrations are frankly irresistible and bring the language to life. These literature courses are as good as any you will find in a university Modern Irish Department."
Jean Dohan, Tennessee
Early Bird Pricing available until June 25th
Final Date for Registration: July 1st
14 Day No Questions Asked Refund Policy
We want you to feel confident in joining the course — so we offer a 14-day, no-questions-asked refund policy.
The 14 day period begins on the course commencement date, i.e. July 10th.
If you’re not satisfied for any reason within the first 14 days of the course, just let us know and we’ll issue a full refund.
📝 Please note:
If your book has already been shipped, the cost of the book and postage will be deducted from your refund.
