How can I signal to people that I have Irish

Updated on 10 February 2026

1 nóiméad ar fad

Table of Contents

As an individual
Companies and Organizations
Additional Information

Faigh eolas anseo ar conas a chur in iúl do dhaoine (cairde, fostóirí, an pobal) go bhfuil Gaeilge agat, agus go bhfuil tú sásta í a labhairt.

How can I signal to people that I have Irish

Find out about the different ways you can let people (friends, employers, the public) know that you have Irish and that you are happy to speak it.

As an individual #

Badges

The Fáinne (ring) is one of the most widely-known and adopted ways to let people know that you have Irish when you’re out and about. You wear it on your lapel so that people meeting you can see it and know that they can speak Irish with you.

You can choose a Fáinne Óir (gold ring), a Fáinne Airgid (silver ring), or a Cúpla Focal (a few words) badge, to idicate how comfortable you are speaking Irish at different levels. If you are fluent, wear the Fáinne Óir, or if you are still learning, you can choose the Fáinne Airgid or Cúpla Focal.

It is easier to start a conversation in Irish when you know that the person you are talking to is willing and happy to speak it as well.

These badges are in reality self-declarations of a person’s ability in Irish, so there is no need to take an exam to get or wear one. Teachers often award the appropriate badges to learners at the end of a Irish-language course.

These and other badges can be purchased from main Irish shops such as Gael Linn, An Siopa Leabhar, An Siopa Gaeilge, and others.

Standards and Qualifications

Outside the education system, the Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) is the most common qualification to measure and demonstrate a person’s ability in Irish. TEG offers a series of exams and qualifications for adults learning Irish. These exams give applicants, from beginners to advanced levels, the opportunity to certify their skills in speaking, listening, reading, and written Irish.

You can also obtain certificates, diplomas, degrees, and postgraduate qualifications in Irish. It would be generally understood that the qualification achieved corresponds to a certain TEG level.

Companies and Organizations #

There are many support schemes for companies and organizations across the country that want to promote Irish, and various badges and signage are available as part of these schemes for the organisations to show their customers and patrons that they are supportive of Irish.