Gaeilge Thar Lear

In this episode of Gaeilge Thar Lear, I take you on a journey through space and time, from bedtime stories with my daughters to the farthest planets, stars, and galaxies. We reflect on scale — what is small and what is vast — from the universe’s physical history to human history and our own lives on the “pale blue dot.” I share personal reflections, laughter, curiosity, and wonder as we explore remarkable cultures and histories, and consider how brief our time on this planet really is.This episode is full of curiosity, play, and reflection — perfect for anyone wanting to see the world from a bigger perspective.This is the bilingual EN-GA version. Bain sult as!_____________________________________________________________________________________________________Sa eagrán seo de Gaeilge Thar Lear, téim ar turas trí spás agus am, ó scéalta codlata le mo chailíní go dtí na pláinéid, réaltaí agus galaxies is faide uainn. Machnaímid faoin méid atá beag nó mór, ón stair fhisiciúil agus stair na daonnachta go dtí ár saolanna féin ar an “pale blue dot”. Foghlaimímid faoi chultúir agus stair iontacha, smaoinímid ar cé chomh beag is atá ár tréimhse ar an bplainéad seo, agus roinneann mé machnaimh phearsanta, gáire agus fiosracht.Tá an podchraoladh seo lán le suim, spraoi agus machnamh, agus is álainn dóibh siúd atá ag iarraidh féachaint ar an saol ó phríomhleibhéal difriúil._________________________________________________________________________________________________________"Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it, everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there--on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds.Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment, the Earth is where we make our stand.It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known."— Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot, 1994Am: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOVvEbH2GC0Spás: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR3Igc3Rhfg

Sa eagrán seo de Gaeilge Thar Lear, téim ar turas trí spás agus am, ó scéalta codlata le mo chailíní go dtí na pláinéid, réaltaí agus galaxies is faide uainn. Machnaímid faoin méid atá beag nó mór, ón stair fhisiciúil agus stair na daonnachta go dtí ár saolanna féin ar an “pale blue dot”. Foghlaimímid faoi chultúir agus stair iontacha, smaoinímid ar cé chomh beag is atá ár tréimhse ar an bplainéad seo, agus roinneann mé machnaimh phearsanta, gáire agus fiosracht.Tá an podchraoladh seo lán le suim, spraoi agus machnamh, agus is álainn dóibh siúd atá ag iarraidh féachaint ar an saol ó phríomhleibhéal difriúil.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________In this episode of Gaeilge Thar Lear, I take you on a journey through space and time, from bedtime stories with my daughters to the farthest planets, stars, and galaxies. We reflect on scale — what is small and what is vast — from the universe’s physical history to human history and our own lives on the “pale blue dot.” I share personal reflections, laughter, curiosity, and wonder as we explore remarkable cultures and histories, and consider how brief our time on this planet really is.This episode is full of curiosity, play, and reflection — perfect for anyone wanting to see the world from a bigger perspective.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________"Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it, everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there--on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds.Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment, the Earth is where we make our stand.It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known."— Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot, 1994Am: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOVvEbH2GC0Spás: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR3Igc3Rhfg

In this episode of Gaeilge Thar Lear, we take a reflective journey through music, identity, and Irishness abroad — through the story of an Irish person who carved out a unique place at the heart of the German music industry.The episode explores what it means to fully step into another culture: speaking the language fluently but without hiding an accent, embracing difference rather than smoothing it away, and having the courage to commit to a place that was once unfamiliar.This is not a biography, but a reflection on what happens when we bring pieces of ourselves with us overseas — our language, our outlook, our “it’ll be grand” — and when we engage seriously and intentionally with the place we now call home.An episode about diving in, holding onto identity without disguising it, and how Irishness can become a strength rather than a barrier.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________Sa chlár seo de Gaeilge Thar Lear, téimid ar thuras machnaimh faoi cheol, féiniúlacht agus Éireannachas thar lear — trí scéal Éireannaigh a rinne a bhealach féin i gcroílár thionscal ceoil na Gearmáine.Pléitear an chaoi ar féidir áit uathúil a chruthú i gcultúr eile: an bhéim Éireannach fós le cloisteáil, an teanga á labhairt go líofa ach gan í a cheilt, agus an misneach dul isteach go hiomlán i saol nach raibh ar eolas ar dtús.Ní clár beathaisnéise é seo, ach machnamh ar an méid a tharlaíonn nuair a thugaimid píosaí dínn féin linn thar lear — ár dteanga, ár ndearcadh, ár “it’ll be grand” — agus nuair a ghlacaimid go dáiríre leis an áit ina mbímid anois.Clár faoin tumadh isteach, faoin bhféiniúlacht a choinneáil gan í a cheilt, agus faoin mbealach a bhféadfadh Éireannachas a bheith ina neart, ní ina bhac.

Sa chlár seo de Gaeilge Thar Lear, téimid ar thuras machnaimh faoi cheol, féiniúlacht agus Éireannachas thar lear — trí scéal Éireannaigh a rinne a bhealach féin i gcroílár thionscal ceoil na Gearmáine.Pléitear an chaoi ar féidir áit uathúil a chruthú i gcultúr eile: an bhéim Éireannach fós le cloisteáil, an teanga á labhairt go líofa ach gan í a cheilt, agus an misneach dul isteach go hiomlán i saol nach raibh ar eolas ar dtús.Ní clár beathaisnéise é seo, ach machnamh ar an méid a tharlaíonn nuair a thugaimid píosaí dínn féin linn thar lear — ár dteanga, ár ndearcadh, ár “it’ll be grand” — agus nuair a ghlacaimid go dáiríre leis an áit ina mbímid anois.Clár faoin tumadh isteach, faoin bhféiniúlacht a choinneáil gan í a cheilt, agus faoin mbealach a bhféadfadh Éireannachas a bheith ina neart, ní ina bhac.___________________________________________________________________________________________________In this episode of Gaeilge Thar Lear, we take a reflective journey through music, identity, and Irishness abroad — through the story of an Irish person who carved out a unique place at the heart of the German music industry.The episode explores what it means to fully step into another culture: speaking the language fluently but without hiding an accent, embracing difference rather than smoothing it away, and having the courage to commit to a place that was once unfamiliar.This is not a biography, but a reflection on what happens when we bring pieces of ourselves with us overseas — our language, our outlook, our “it’ll be grand” — and when we engage seriously and intentionally with the place we now call home.An episode about diving in, holding onto identity without disguising it, and how Irishness can become a strength rather than a barrier.

In the second episode of Gaeilge Thar Lear for 2026 — “An Glúin Imníoch (The Anxious Generation)” — Oisín reflects on growing up at a unique crossroads between a play-based childhood and an emerging screen-based one. He recalls a time when games consoles began appearing in bedrooms, yet still served as a way to connect with friends in the real world, and when mobile phones were simple devices that represented independence from parents — rather than the all-consuming tools they can be today.Drawing on Jonathan Haidt’s book The Anxious Generation, the episode explores the impact of smartphones, social media, and constant connectivity on Gen Z, including rising levels of social anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. While the book’s key ideas are discussed, listeners are encouraged to read it themselves for a fuller understanding.The episode also takes a personal turn, as Oisín shares how he is preparing for his own children to grow up in a world shaped by generative AI, large language models, social media pressures, and “always-on” digital life. A thoughtful and timely conversation about childhood, technology, and what lies ahead for the next generation.This is the bilingual English-Irish version._______________________________________________________________________________________________________Sa dara eagrán de Gaeilge Thar Lear in 2026 — “An Glúin Imníoch (The Anxious Generation)” — déanann Oisín machnamh ar a óige féin agus ar an aistriú ó shaol súgartha lasmuigh go saol atá ag éirí níos digiteach. Pléitear an chaoi ar tháinig consóil cluichí isteach sna seomraí codlata den chéad uair, agus conas a bhí fóin phóca (gan a bheith cliste!) ina siombail neamhspleáchais ó thuismitheoirí — seachas an “ghaiste” a mbíonn siad inniu do go leor daoine óga.Bunaithe ar an leabhar The Anxious Generation le Jonathan Haidt, breathnaítear ar an tionchar atá ag fóin chliste, na meáin shóisialta agus nascacht bhuan ar mheabhairshláinte ghlúin Gen Z — ó imní shóisialta go dúlagar agus níos faide i gcéin. Cé go dtugtar léargas ar phríomh-smaointe an leabhair, spreagtar éisteoirí chun é a léamh iad féin le haghaidh tuiscint níos doimhne.Ina theannta sin, labhraíonn Oisín go pearsanta faoin gcaoi a bhfuil sé ag ullmhú dá pháistí féin sa domhan nua seo — domhan ina bhfuil AI giniúnach, LLManna, tionchair shóisialta ar líne agus scáileáin i ngach áit. Eipeasóid mhachnamhach, phearsanta agus thráthúil faoin gcaidreamh atá againn leis an teicneolaíocht agus leis an óige.Seo an leagan Béarla-Gaeilge dhátheangach.

Sa chéad eipeasóid de Gaeilge Thar Lear in 2026 — “An Glúin Imníoch (The Anxious Generation)” — déanann Oisín machnamh ar a óige féin agus ar an aistriú ó shaol súgartha lasmuigh go saol atá ag éirí níos digiteach. Pléitear an chaoi ar tháinig consóil cluichí isteach sna seomraí codlata den chéad uair, agus conas a bhí fóin phóca (gan a bheith cliste!) ina siombail neamhspleáchais ó thuismitheoirí — seachas an “ghaiste” a mbíonn siad inniu do go leor daoine óga.Bunaithe ar an leabhar The Anxious Generation le Jonathan Haidt, breathnaítear ar an tionchar atá ag fóin chliste, na meáin shóisialta agus nascacht bhuan ar mheabhairshláinte ghlúin Gen Z — ó imní shóisialta go dúlagar agus níos faide i gcéin. Cé go dtugtar léargas ar phríomh-smaointe an leabhair, spreagtar éisteoirí chun é a léamh iad féin le haghaidh tuiscint níos doimhne.Ina theannta sin, labhraíonn Oisín go pearsanta faoin gcaoi a bhfuil sé ag ullmhú dá pháistí féin sa domhan nua seo — domhan ina bhfuil AI giniúnach, LLManna, tionchair shóisialta ar líne agus scáileáin i ngach áit. Eipeasóid mhachnamhach, phearsanta agus thráthúil faoin gcaidreamh atá againn leis an teicneolaíocht agus leis an óige._________________________________________________________________________In the first episode of Gaeilge Thar Lear for 2026 — “An Glúin Imníoch (The Anxious Generation)” — Oisín reflects on growing up at a unique crossroads between a play-based childhood and an emerging screen-based one. He recalls a time when games consoles began appearing in bedrooms, yet still served as a way to connect with friends in the real world, and when mobile phones were simple devices that represented independence from parents — rather than the all-consuming tools they can be today.Drawing on Jonathan Haidt’s book The Anxious Generation, the episode explores the impact of smartphones, social media, and constant connectivity on Gen Z, including rising levels of social anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. While the book’s key ideas are discussed, listeners are encouraged to read it themselves for a fuller understanding.The episode also takes a personal turn, as Oisín shares how he is preparing for his own children to grow up in a world shaped by generative AI, large language models, social media pressures, and “always-on” digital life. A thoughtful and timely conversation about childhood, technology, and what lies ahead for the next generation.

In this episode of Gaeilge Thar Lear, Oisín talks about New Year’s Resolutions. He reflects on how starting a journaling habit back in 2015 led him to create annual goals that keep him motivated throughout the year. These goals encompass a range of objectives, including reading targets, running milestones, investment plans, personal development, and various challenges. One of his goals for 2025 was to start Gaeilge Thar Lear — and with more than 40 episodes now published, it’s safe to say that goal has been well and truly achieved. He also explains the systems he uses to stay on track with those goals.Oisín discusses lessons from Atomic Habits by James Clear, a powerful book for anyone interested in changing their habits and achieving long-term personal development. Some of the key takeaways include the Four Laws of Behaviour Change, the importance of shaping your environment, building identity-based habits, and focusing on consistent small steps in the right direction. When we change what we do every day — our habits — we move closer to becoming a better version of ourselves. This is a New Year’s Resolutions-style episode; it won’t be for everyone… but if you have big goals or ideas for 2026, you might find it useful.This is the bilingual version Gaeilge-Béarla.______________________________________________________________________________________________San eagrán seo de Gaeilge Thar Lear, pléann Oisín rúin don Bhliain Nua. Insíonn sé conas a thosaigh sé ag scríobh dialainne in 2015, agus gur spreag sé sin é chun spriocanna bliantúla a leagan síos — spriocanna a choinníonn dírithe agus spreagtha é i rith na bliana. Bíonn a spriocanna ag baint le léamh, le rith, le hinfheistíocht, agus le forbairt phearsanta agus dúshláin éagsúla. Ceann dá spriocanna in 2025 ná Gaeilge Thar Lear a thosú — agus anois agus os cionn 40 podchraoladh déanta aige, is léir gur baineadh an sprioc sin amach go breá! Labhraíonn sé freisin faoin gcóras a úsáideann sé chun fanacht ar an mbóthar i dtreo a chuid spriocanna.Pléann sé na ceachtanna tábhachtacha ón leabhar Atomic Habits le James Clear — leabhar cumhachtach do dhuine ar bith atá ag iarraidh a nósanna a athrú agus forbairt phearsanta a bhaint amach. Áirítear leis seo na Ceithre Dhlí maidir le hAthrú Iompair, tábhacht na timpeallachta, nósanna bunaithe ar fhéiniúlacht, agus céimeanna beaga comhsheasmhacha sa treo ceart. Má athraímid cad a dhéanaimid gach lá — ár nósanna — is féidir linn oibriú i dtreo leagan níos fearr dínn féin.Is eagrán é seo ar théama Rún na Bliana Nua; b’fhéidir nach mbeidh sé oiriúnach do chách… ach má tá spriocanna móra nó smaointe móra agat do 2026, seans maith go mbeidh sé úsáideach duit.Béarla-Gaeilge.___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

San eagrán seo de Gaeilge Thar Lear, pléann Oisín rúin don Bhliain Nua. Insíonn sé conas a thosaigh sé ag scríobh dialainne in 2015, agus gur spreag sé sin é chun spriocanna bliantúla a leagan síos — spriocanna a choinníonn dírithe agus spreagtha é i rith na bliana. Bíonn a spriocanna ag baint le léamh, le rith, le hinfheistíocht, agus le forbairt phearsanta agus dúshláin éagsúla. Ceann dá spriocanna in 2025 ná Gaeilge Thar Lear a thosú — agus anois agus os cionn 40 podchraoladh déanta aige, is léir gur baineadh an sprioc sin amach go breá! Labhraíonn sé freisin faoin gcóras a úsáideann sé chun fanacht ar an mbóthar i dtreo a chuid spriocanna.Pléann sé na ceachtanna tábhachtacha ón leabhar Atomic Habits le James Clear — leabhar cumhachtach do dhuine ar bith atá ag iarraidh a nósanna a athrú agus forbairt phearsanta a bhaint amach. Áirítear leis seo na Ceithre Dhlí maidir le hAthrú Iompair, tábhacht na timpeallachta, nósanna bunaithe ar fhéiniúlacht, agus céimeanna beaga comhsheasmhacha sa treo ceart. Má athraímid cad a dhéanaimid gach lá — ár nósanna — is féidir linn oibriú i dtreo leagan níos fearr dínn féin.Is eagrán é seo ar théama Rún na Bliana Nua; b’fhéidir nach mbeidh sé oiriúnach do chách… ach má tá spriocanna móra nó smaointe móra agat do 2026, seans maith go mbeidh sé úsáideach duit.___________________________________________________________________________________________________________In this episode of Gaeilge Thar Lear, Oisín talks about New Year’s Resolutions. He reflects on how starting a journaling habit back in 2015 led him to create annual goals that keep him motivated throughout the year. These goals encompass a range of objectives, including reading targets, running milestones, investment plans, personal development, and various challenges. One of his goals for 2025 was to start Gaeilge Thar Lear — and with more than 40 episodes now published, it’s safe to say that goal has been well and truly achieved. He also explains the systems he uses to stay on track with those goals.Oisín discusses lessons from Atomic Habits by James Clear, a powerful book for anyone interested in changing their habits and achieving long-term personal development. Some of the key takeaways include the Four Laws of Behaviour Change, the importance of shaping your environment, building identity-based habits, and focusing on consistent small steps in the right direction. When we change what we do every day—our habits — we move closer to becoming a better version of ourselves.This is a New Year’s Resolutions-style episode; it won’t be for everyone… but if you have big goals or ideas for 2026, you might find it useful.