Meet 2024-2025 Irish FLTA Róisín Ní Bhroin, a passionate advocate for the Irish language, whose journey has taken her from the picturesque South East of Ireland to the academic halls of University College Cork (UCC), and beyond to a future here in the United States. Róisín's love for Irish is not just a personal passion—it's a mission to share this unique language with others. This mission to garner interest in the Irish language is especially important considering that, according to a 2022 consensus, only 1.9 million people living in Ireland can actually speak it.
Born and raised in Wexford in the South East of Ireland, Róisín began learning Irish at the age of four, and over the years, the language became an integral part of her life. Her academic path led her to University College Cork, where she pursued an undergraduate degree in Law and Irish language. She graduated in 2023, having developed a deep academic understanding of both the legal system and the nuances of the Irish language.
Her passion didn’t stop there, however. After completing her undergrad, Róisín continued her studies with a Master's in European Law and Irish, a program that allowed her to merge her interests in law, linguistics, and culture. During this time, she also taught conversational Irish classes to undergraduate students, a role that gave her firsthand experience in the complexities of teaching Irish as a second language.
Róisín’s academic journey even took her abroad. As an undergraduate, she studied in Spain, where she immersed herself in the language and culture. She also participated in a two-week French exchange during high school, which broadened her linguistic and cultural horizons even further. But it was her encounter with someone who had completed a Fulbright Program in Montana, teaching Irish, that truly inspired Róisín to consider teaching Irish on a larger stage. In April 2024, she was assigned to Notre Dame, where she will continue her mission to teach Irish and share her love for the language with students in the United States.
Before her Fulbright journey began, Róisín spent a summer teaching teenage students in the beautiful regions of Kerry, Mayo, and Donegal, located on the western coast of Ireland. Teaching young learners in these vibrant areas presented both challenges and rewards. While Róisín admits that her teaching methods were still developing, she found it deeply fulfilling to work with students who shared her enthusiasm for learning Irish.
“The most rewarding part of teaching is working with enthusiastic students. It’s a great feeling when they embrace the language and feel a sense of accomplishment,” Róisín says. She believes that teaching Irish, especially to beginners, is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact, even if the methods themselves are still a work in progress.
Róisín is passionate about the need for more Irish language-medium schools and believes that Irish should continue to be a requirement in the education system. This, she argues, would help ensure that the language continues to thrive in Ireland, both within the classroom and beyond.
Róisín is a firm believer that language learning is easier when students feel socially connected to it. Her advice to language learners is simple yet powerful: “Embrace it, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. That’s how you learn.” She points out that many learners hesitate to speak or practice a language for fear of making errors, but in her view, making mistakes is an essential part of the process. As long as students feel supported and connected, they’ll be more willing to engage with the language.
Róisín’s Fulbright year at Notre Dame is just a single chapter of her compelling teaching career. After completing the Fulbright program, Róisín plans to keep teaching Irish—whether in Ireland or abroad. For her, the joy of sharing the language is something that transcends borders, and she’s committed to ensuring that the Irish language continues to thrive for generations to come. Róisín’s story is a reminder that language is not just a tool for communication, but a bridge to culture, history, and connection. Through her work, she hopes to inspire others to embrace Irish—and all languages—without fear, knowing that the rewards of learning and teaching are well worth the effort.
Whether you're a student, a professor, or simply someone with an interest in language, Róisín’s journey serves as a reminder that learning a language is not just about mastering vocabulary and grammar—it’s about embracing the culture, making human errors, and building lasting connections along the way.
About the CSLC
The Center for the Study of Languages and Cultures (CSLC) aims to support language learners at ND by facilitating meaningful experiences with linguistic acquisition and exchange - both in our campus community and abroad. We believe that access to the world's languages and cultures allows us to seek out new perspectives, to value the diversity of the world's cultures, and to embody global citizenship.