Irish Language & Culture
“Language is the blood of the soul into which thoughts run and out of which they grow.” ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes
Are you interested in Irish music, literature, and folklore? Do you have Irish ancestry? The Irish language is a priceless repository of all that is truly Irish. Our beginning course offers the discovery of Irish language and culture in a relaxed and fun environment.
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Irish language and culture classes in Madison
Instructor for Irish classes
Student comments
Conversational Irish classes in Madison
Beginning 1: In this course you develop basic conversational and reading skills in the Irish language. Experience the richness of Irish culture in its literature, history, and music, by exploring short texts written in Irish. Instructor: Dineen Grow.
Browse upcoming Irish classes in the Continuing Education Catalog online.
Textbooks for language classes are available for preview and purchase on campus in the University Book Store's lower level, in the outreach section. The University Book Store is located at 711 State St., Madison (at Lake St., on the Library Mall).
See campus map.
Your instructor

What students are saying about our classes
“Dineen's Irish classes are full of conversation, stories and laughter. She gives you a strong foundation in Irish grammar and idiom and makes her classes as fun as they are educational.”
“Learning this vexing and delightful language with Dineen Grow has been the highlight of my week these past few years. As a teacher she is extraordinarily generous, ever patient and full of good humor.”
“Although I had long had an interest in Irish language, it was Dineen who inspired me to take action, and it was in her classes that I finally began to make some progress. Her enthusiasm and patience are so encouraging, and her dedication and generosity bring us back every week. Dineen is a true asset to Madison's language community.”
How to register
Call 608-262-2451, 7:00 am-4:00 pm, M-F. Specific program numbers and links to the mail-in registration form or to register online can be found in the continuing education catalog.
Contact us
- Madison area registration questions: 608-262-2451.
- UW-Madison Continuing Studies in Irish programs coordinator Britt Zeidler: bzeidler@dcs.wisc.edu or 608-262-2676.
- Join the mailing list for Irish or other language programs.
- Review frequently asked questions about language programs.
Thank you for your interest in learning Irish. Sláinte agus saol chugat!
