Learn Irish through storytelling — 'An Mac Tíre Deireanach'. A listening and reading challenge for adult learners
Improve your Irish with ease in just three weeks.
Suitable for beginner to intermediate learners.
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Early Bird Offer Ends Soon
If you’d like to join the challenge and save €30, make sure to enroll before the deadline.
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An Mac Tíre Deireanach
The Last Wolf
🎧 Train your ear
📆 Develop an enjoyable and convenient learning routine
💚Feel more connected to Irish language and culture — in just three weeks 🐾
An Easier and More Enjoyable Way to Learn Irish
Listen Up Irish is a unique learning method for Irish learners that uses Irish literature, paired with audio recordings by a native speaker, together with bilingual support materials.
An Mac Tíre Deireanach is a challenge for upper beginner/lower intermediate level learners, to help build a sustainable habit and gain real understanding of Irish — in just 15 minutes every other day.
No more leaving books unread or not getting past chapter 2, that's all about to change with the Listen Up Irish method!
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Why You'll Love Learning Irish with Listen Up Irish:
Learning Irish doesn’t have to feel like hard work. With Listen Up Irish, you’ll stay motivated, make real progress, and actually enjoy learning Irish every step of the way.
Understand real Irish as it's actually spoken
Step beyond the textbooks and learn the language as it's actually spoken. Through native-speaker recordings you’ll tune your ear to the rhythm, tone, and flow of everyday Irish.
Build a habit that fits your life
You don’t need hours of study to make real progress. With short, focused lessons every other day, you’ll build a rhythm that feels achievable and rewarding. That's the real secret behind this method - it's habit-forming!
Learn through storytelling, not study
Forget forcing yourself through dull exercises or half-read grammar books. An Mac Tíre Deireanach immerses you in an award-winning Irish story, supported by bilingual text and guided listening.
An Mac Tíre Deireanach
Yes, it's a children's book — but here's why you'll love it.
An Mac Tíre Deireanach (The Last Wolf), a children's novel by Patricia Forde, illustrated by Lauren O'Neill, is set in Ireland in 1652, a time of great fear and upheaval.
An Mac Tíre Deireanach was written for younger readers — and that's what makes it the perfect story for learners of Irish of all ages! The language is clear and natural and you won't need to stop and translate every word. You'll feel the rhythm and flow of Irish as you follow the story.
You're not just reading a children's book. You're rediscovering the joy of learning through storytelling — the way language is meant to be learned.
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 Irish storytelling.
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“A short novel about Oliver Cromwell's trail of destruction in Ireland and one girl's mission to help the last remaining wolf in the land. A touching story of love and loss, this historical fiction takes us to a pivotal time in Irish history without getting too dark and dreary.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Gráinne Ní Mhuilneoir, The Sunday Times
D'iompaigh an mac tíre go tobann uaithi agus shleamhnaigh sé as radharc. Ní raibh fágtha ag Úna ach rian a lapaí sa sneachta.
The wolf turned suddenly from her and slipped out of view. All that remained for Úna was the trace of his paws in the snow.
Irish Learning — With Ease
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 An Mac Tíre Deireanach 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're protected with our 14 day money back guarantee.
You'll Notice the Progress
After Just One Chapter
You don’t need to wait weeks to notice results. With each short chapter of An Mac Tíre Deireanach, 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 for three weeks, you’ll train your ear to the sound of natural Irish, strengthen your vocabulary, and start speaking with more ease—no textbook required.
Your Guides on The Mac Tíre Challenge
Learning a language is easier (and more enjoyable) when you trust the people guiding you. This course was created by a team of authors, and educators from the west of Ireland dedicated to helping you succeed.
Patricia Forde
Laureate na nÓg 2023 – 2026, Patricia Forde is a bilingual writer who creates stories for print, television and the stage. Patricia has written many award-winning books for children and young adults and been published in both Ireland and further afield. She is also an established TV scriptwriter and her first feature film, Fidil Ghorm, premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh in 2024.
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.
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.
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An Mac Tíre Deireanach —
the Challenge That Brings the Irish Language to Life
Here's What's Included in Your Learning Journey:
📘 Book and
Tracker
Receive your own copy of the book in the post, along with a physical tracker to mark your progress as you go — keeping you motivated from chapter one to the end.
🎧 Audio
Recordings
Enjoy studio-quality audio from Joe, a native Irish speaker from Connemara, to perfect your pronunciation and rhythm naturally.
🌍 Bilingual
Downloads
Follow along with Irish and English side by side — no need to stop and translate, just relax and absorb the story.
🎥 Chapter
Summaries
Get short bilingual video recaps with cultural insights and commentary from Joe and Patricia, connecting your reading with Ireland’s folklore and history.
💬Stór Focal
Videos
Expand your conversational Irish with vocabulary builder videos that explain real-world phrases you’ll actually use.
⏱️ Short
Lessons
Learn in bite-sized sessions designed to reinforce new words and patterns through natural repetition — no rote memorization needed.
✉️ Email
Reminders
Get gentle reminders and new lesson links every other day — the perfect nudge to keep your Irish habit strong.
🚶♂️ Learn
On The Go
Use the free app and take the challenge anywhere — listen to lessons on your walk, drive, or commute. No desk time required.
And There Are
Amazing Bonuses
Not only does the course include a printed copy of the book plus tracker delivered to your door; high quality audio recordings for each chapter; support material in audio, text and video format and full support the Mac Tíre Challenge also includes the following bonuses:
Bonus Resources: Cromwellian Ireland with Prof. Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh
Step beyond the story and into the history with extra resources which dive into the world of Cromwellian Ireland, featuring insights from one of Ireland’s leading historians, Prof. Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the period that shaped the world of An Mac Tíre Deireanach.
3 Live Sessions including a Question and Answer session with the author
Join three interactive live sessions — including a Q&A with the author. You’ll meet other learners, practise your spoken Irish in a friendly setting, and get personal guidance to help you feel confident using what you’ve learned.
Ongoing Support as you go through the Challenge
You’re never on your own. As you move through the course, we are here to answer your questions, clarify tricky grammar points, and keep you motivated every step of the way. You can comment under any of the lessons, or ask questions during the live sessions.
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Bonus Spotlight — Cromwellian Ireland
To take your understanding of Irish culture and history even deeper we've included special bonus content exploring one of the most powerful chapters in Irish history — the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.
Guided by Prof. Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh, one of Ireland's most respected historians, you'll uncover how Cromwell's arrival in the mid 1600s changed Ireland forever; not only shaping the land, language, and identity but also contributing to destruction of natural habitats.
🎉 Register by MIDNIGHT on November 17th to Save €30 with
Early Bird Pricing
(and to get your printed book delivered in time).
Pricing varies by region to cover international shipping for your printed course book.
Ireland, UK & EU — €127
🇮🇪 Register from Ireland, UK & EUUSA, Canada, AUS & Rest of World — €137
🌍Register from USA, Canada, AUS & Rest of WorldYou are fully protected with our 14 day money back guarantee.
How a Previous Listen Up Irish Challenge Inspired Their Learning
Adrian and Lynne describe their experience of taking our previous Bódléar Challenge during the Summer.
Answers To Your Questions
When does the Challenge start and finish?
For how long will I have access to the course?
How much time will I need to devote to the course?
How do I access the course?
What level of Irish is required?
What is the refund policy?
What dialect of Irish is used in the course?
Are there any live sessions included as part of the course?
What if the book hasn't arrived by the start date?
Can I purchase the course on its own, without the book?
You're protected with our 14 day money back guarantee.
What Others Have Said
About Previous Challenges
Here are some reviews of our previous challenge based on the novel Bódléar by Darach Ó Scolaí, and of our self-study Literature and Poetry courses.
"What I would say is 'go for it!'. The challenge was an amazing way to learn Irish. I really appreciated all the hard work and effort Joe and Patricia put into it. I am certain you won't be disappointed. I came away feeling a great sense of achievement. Thank you Joe and Patricia for being there for me every step of the way." 🙂
Sandra Steele, U.K.
"What if I don't like the book?" was my first thought! I am so glad that I did this challenge - the very first sentence won me over! Because even though it was difficult at first, it was SO worth it! (There is a beautiful sentence in the first chapter of the book which basically says that the view from the top of the mountain is worth the hardship of the climb, and that sums up the challenge perfectly! Patricia and Joe are amazing guides - they not only explain interesting words and phrases, but also give historical and cultural background information, explain dialectal words and summarise each chapter. I am not usually a fan of audiobooks but I will surely listen to Joe's recording of the book again and again. The amazing thing about the challenge is that you learn Irish without really noticing. I knew by the end of the challenge that my Irish had really moved up a level."
Julia Bachmeier, Bavaria
"Thaitin Dúshlán an tSamhraidh go mór liom, bhí sé go hiontach ar fad. Tá an leabhar Bódléar, le Darach Ó Scolaí ar fheabhas. Molaim an modh seo go mór chun Gaeilge a fhoghlaim agus comhghairdeas Patricia agus Joe as ucht an dúshlán iontach seo a chur ar fáil."
Kevin Minton, Galway
"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
"This course is a fantastic way to improve listening skills. I looked forward to reading and listening every day just to find out what was going to happen next in the story…and along the way I really upped my skills in a way that didn’t feel like work! Having texts and support materials made this course accessible for learners at many different levels. I would call myself a low intermediate level, but I think I got as much out of the course as the fluent learners. ."
Lynne Feyk, Florida
"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
You're protected with our 14 day money back guarantee.
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, beginning on the course commencement date, i.e. November 24th.
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.
📝 If your book has already been shipped, the cost of the book and postage will be deducted from your refund.
🇺🇸 International shipments to the USA are subject to customs/import clearance. If a parcel is returned to us because of incorrect address, refusal of delivery or un-claimed import charges, the return postage and any handling costs will be borne by the purchaser.
Early Bird Offer Ends Soon
If you’d like to join the challenge and save €30, make sure to enroll before the deadline.
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