blas.Irish articles
Browse sourced, editorially reviewed irish articles from blas.
How We Built a Language App for Irish and Welsh
And the open-source framework we extracted from it. The architecture behind blas., why Irish and Welsh need their own approach, and introducing Toberwine.
Read on Substack→Goidelic vs Brythonic: How the Celtic Languages Split
The Celtic family broke into two branches. Goidelic kept the original kw sound, Brythonic shifted to p. Why the split happened, where each branch lives today, and how they differ.
May 7, 2026
How Many Celtic Languages Are There? All 6 Living Languages, Explained
Six living Celtic languages, two branches, one shared ancestor. Speaker numbers, geographic spread, and the status of each Celtic language today.
May 7, 2026
blas. vs Anki for Irish — Pre-Built App vs DIY Flashcards
Anki is the gold standard for spaced repetition. blas. uses the same algorithm (FSRS) but builds everything for you. When to use which — and when to use both.
April 1, 2026
blas. vs Drops for Irish — Which Vocabulary App Is Better?
Drops teaches Irish vocabulary with swipe games. blas. teaches vocabulary in grammatical context with mutations and spaced repetition. Here's how they compare.
April 1, 2026
blas. vs Pimsleur for Irish — Grammar App vs Audio Course
Pimsleur teaches you to speak Irish by ear. blas. teaches you why Irish works the way it does. Side-by-side comparison of method, coverage, pricing, and who each is for.
April 1, 2026
Learning Irish from Abroad — A Guide for the Diaspora
You don't need to live in Ireland to learn Irish. Tools, communities, and a practical plan for Irish Americans, Australians, Canadians, and diaspora learners.
March 6, 2026
Irish Verb Conjugation: All Tenses and Tables
Complete Irish conjugation tables for every tense: present, past, future, conditional, and habitual past. All 11 irregular verbs, with verbal nouns.
March 6, 2026
The 6 Celtic Languages and How They Compare
Irish, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Breton, Cornish, and Manx: speaker numbers, the Goidelic and Brythonic split, mutual intelligibility, and what sets each apart.
March 6, 2026
Irish Pronunciation: The System Behind the Spelling
Irish spelling isn't random. Broad vs slender consonants, the caol le caol rule, lenited sounds, and vowel pronunciation. Once you see the system, it clicks.
March 6, 2026
How to Learn Irish as an Adult: A Step-by-Step Roadmap
Where to start, what to learn first, the best tools, and realistic timelines. A practical roadmap for adult learners, from zero to confident speaker.
February 26, 2026
50 Basic Irish Phrases with Pronunciation: Greetings, Thanks, Daily Use
The Irish phrases real learners use most. Greetings, thanks, opinions, and daily social situations. Each phrase comes with a pronunciation guide.
February 26, 2026
Irish vs Scottish Gaelic: How Different Are They Really?
Same roots, different languages. Side-by-side spelling, pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary comparison. Plus: can speakers understand each other?
February 26, 2026
How Long Does It Take to Learn Irish?
The FSI says 1,100 hours, but how long to actually hold a conversation? Realistic A1 to B2 timelines, what slows you down, and how to cut months off.
February 26, 2026
blas. App Review 2026: What It Does and Doesn't Do
An honest review of blas., the Celtic language app for Irish, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Breton, Cornish, and Manx. What it covers, what it doesn't, who it's built for, and whether it's worth your time.
February 26, 2026
blas. vs Duolingo for Irish: What's Actually Different
Side-by-side comparison of blas. and Duolingo for learning Irish. Grammar, mutations, reading, conversation, pricing, and who each app is best for.
February 26, 2026
Seachtain na Gaeilge 2026: Phrases You Can Actually Use This March
Practical Irish phrases for Seachtain na Gaeilge (Irish Language Week, 1-17 March): greetings, ordering, opinions, survival phrases, and social media captions.
February 25, 2026
Irish Grammar for Beginners: What to Learn First
A practical roadmap for Irish grammar: VSO word order, tá vs is, séimhiú, urú, and prepositional pronouns, in the order that actually matters.
February 20, 2026
Best Apps to Learn Irish in 2026
Every major Irish app tested: Duolingo, Pimsleur, Drops, Anki, blas., and more. Honest pros, cons, pricing, and which one actually teaches grammar.
February 19, 2026
Learning Irish on Duolingo? Here's What It Doesn't Teach You.
Duolingo won't teach you grammar rules, mutation patterns, or how to read Irish. Here's where most learners plateau and what to use next.
February 18, 2026
Irish Mutations Explained: Séimhiú and Urú
How Irish initial mutations work: when to use séimhiú (lenition) vs urú (eclipsis), which numbers and words trigger each, and how to pronounce them.
February 13, 2026