My story with the Irish language

My story with the Irish language

Author: Fluent in 3 Months October 22, 2025 Duration: 11:44

In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I share my story with the Irish language, from struggling through boring school lessons to finally reconnecting with it as an adult. In the 90s, Irish was taught in a very academic and grammar-heavy way, so despite ten years of “learning,” I could barely say a few phrases after school. Years later, after learning Spanish, Italian, and French, a French friend asked me, “Do you speak your own country’s language?” That question made me realize how disconnected I was from my roots and inspired me to give Irish another chance.

I joined an adult immersion program called Oideas Gael, where I spent six weeks learning through morning lessons, Irish dancing, singing, and hill walking. That experience completely changed my relationship with the language and helped me reach a conversational B1 level. Since then, I’ve spoken Irish in Dublin, Galway, and even at events around the world, proudly using it wherever I can. Now, after 15 years based in the US, I’m preparing to move back to Ireland, reactivate my skills, and finally work toward fluency. Stay tuned for updates, and as always, happy language learning and happy travels!

Mentioned in this episode:
- Oideas Gael

If you need one-on-one language guidance, schedule a consultation session with Benny at languagehacking.com/chat.

And don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp here!

Or you can follow me on all Social Media channels:
Instagram: @irishpolyglot
Thread: @irishpolyglot
TikTok: @irishpolyglot


There’s a certain magic that happens when you step off a plane and try to order a meal in a language you’re still fumbling through, or when a simple conversation with a stranger on a train opens up an entirely new perspective. Language & Travel Hacking, from the team behind Fluent in 3 Months, lives in those messy, authentic, and profoundly rewarding moments. Host Benny Lewis, a nomadic polyglot and best-selling author, doesn’t just theorize from a studio; he records from the road, sharing raw, real-time experiences and the practical strategies that actually work when you’re navigating a foreign market or building confidence in a new tongue. Each episode feels like a candid chat with a well-traveled friend who’s made all the mistakes so you don’t have to. You’ll hear the sounds of street markets and train stations in the background as Benny breaks down the psychology of language learning, offers actionable tips for picking up phrases quickly, and discusses how travel itself can be the ultimate classroom. This podcast is built on the idea that fluency and cultural connection aren’t distant goals reserved for the gifted, but accessible skills you can hack through smart, intentional practice. It’s for anyone who believes that the deepest way to explore a place is through its language, and that every journey is an opportunity to reshape how you see the world-and yourself. Tune in for honest stories and tangible advice that will change how you approach your next adventure, whether it’s across the globe or right in your own neighborhood.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 271

Language & Travel Hacking
Podcast Episodes
Escaping Depression? Why Travel Isn't the Answer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:33
In this episode, Benny Lewis shares a personal story about the misconception that travel can cure depression. Reflecting on his own struggles with divorce, clinical depression, and burnout in 2019, Benny explains how he…
Getting detained by the Federal Police: Travel mishap story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:07
In this episode, Benny shares two stories of his experiences trying to extend his stay in Brazil, one in 2006 and the other more recently. The first time, things didn’t go so well. Benny, still new to traveling, didn’t d…
Area codes around the world to help with your travels [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:42
In this episode, Benny explores how knowing area codes can enhance travel experiences and even improve social interactions. When traveling, recognizing phone numbers based on area codes, particularly on apps like WhatsAp…
21 years a nomad: What's changed since 2003? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:44
Benny dives into how travel has changed over his 21 years as a digital nomad. Reflecting on his early travels in the 2000s, Benny shares how meeting people and finding affordable accommodation used to be easier, with too…
Benny Travel Update: 3 Months in the Amazon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:41
In this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast, Benny shares updates from his latest travel adventures. After completing a bus journey across South America, he's now traveling down the Amazon River and visiting all 26 B…
Benny's travel update: 3 huge South American travel projects for 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:25
In this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast, host Benny shares his travel plans and projects for the year, all centered around South America. He discusses three major travel projects: visiting all Brazilian states, t…
Ask Benny: Other ways to avoid being an obvious foreigner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:00
Benny Lewis discusses strategies to avoid standing out as an obvious foreigner when speaking a new language, drawing from his experiences in Brazil. Academic choices of written words, like or simply saying things that ar…