Fáilte! Welcome to The Gaelic Effect
Céad míle, míle fáilte romhat—you are very, very welcome here. Literally, in Irish, as Gaeilge, this means a hundred thousand welcomes are before you!
Why The Gaelic Effect?
We are clearly living in/through liminal times… Butterflies and insects disappearing, apocalyptic fires, authoritarian politics (another kind of fire) and now two wars—plus daily challenges in our own, immediate lives. It’s not easy being human. How do we stay whole in the midst of all this—connected to our own, best humanity? How do we find hope, grounding, and beauty in an often scary and overwhelming world?
The Gaelic Effect shows you how. Offering practical insights (about staying grounded, connected, and relating to each other and the natural/world), The Gaelic Effect explores human memory and potential through the lens of the Irish language. Gaeilge (Irish) offers a three-thousand year old time capsule into one of Europe’s last remaining indigenous cultures. It reveals, in its vocabulary and very structure, a way of human life that is far more cooperative, interdependent and psychologically grounded and attuned. Wonder and awe—the antidote to burnout and despair—are also found here. Bígí linn—”join us” to see what’s possible!
Get inspired!
Subscribe to The Gaelic Effect and get:
Two in-depth essays each month (first and third Thursdays) on what I call Linguistic Archeology: excavating the stór (the treasure trove) of indigenous Irish wisdom as found through Gaeilge (the Irish language). These Irish-language insights are remarkably consistent with mindfulness, Nonviolent Communication, and current research on what fosters collaboration and mental well being—a glimpse into how early humans lived together and what we are capable of again.
Poetry Sundae the first Sunday each month featuring poems by new and well loved writers, arts/culture and commentary further exploring human potential.
The Clachan on the fourth Thursday each month with more personal notes, videos and photos about what I’m up to in Dublin, plus announcements.
Access to the full archive including popular essays on how Irish brings us into the present moment, grounds us in the natural world, and teaches us about interdependence—plus more!
Support in learning new words in Irish. All Gaeilge (Irish words) in The Gaelic Effect are linked to their pronunciation, aiding your learning.
Original photos and art—and sometimes music and video—in all the above.
Practical insights to foster real change in your life plus hope, inspiration and draíocht (magic) mixed in!
Paid subscribers also receive
The pleasure of making The Gaelic Effect available to everyone, without a paywall.
The áthas (joy) of supporting Irish, an endangered language.
The bigger vision: supporting the research, writing and publication of a book based on the The Gaelic Effect.
Special offers and discounts, including on Irish language programs and workshops I offer each year.
My grá mór (deep love) and appreciation for your being a patron and supporting this work. (I thank you and my cats thank you!)
However you choose to participate, fáilte (welcome)! Tá áthas an domhain orm. (The happiness of the world is on me) that you are here.
What Subscribers are Saying
“Very thoughtful and meaningful writing, deserving of reflection, and also great photos! –Hugh
“…full of Irish and Celtic history and wisdom.”—subscriber
“I love the way you are illuminating the Irish language! … Finding your Substack has breathed life into the Irish language and through that, it has breathed life into how I think about my Irish line and the people who came before me, how they might have related to the world through their language (…) it all helps me to understand bits of who I am.” Bre
“This is beautiful and powerful! I love exploring the origins of words and am often very intentional in my word choice. … Blessings to you!” – subscriber
Who is your guide?
In crafting The Gaelic Effect, I draw on numerous threads in my life:
Nonviolent Communication (NVC) & Transformative Coaching I traveled the world as an NVC trainer for 20 years, working with organizations such as Americorp, Cornell University, and the U.N. Development program; I also am a graduate of Coaching for Transformation and previously a trainer in their distance learning program. I co/wrote two popular NVC books, including Connecting across Differences, available in English, German, Dutch, and Simplified and Traditional Chinese and Urban Empathy: True Life Adventures of Compassion on the Streets of New York.
Classical Rhetoric, Applied Linguistics and Critical/Narrative Theory My whole academic career focused in some form on language and how it creates/informs the world. I bring all this knowledge into my thinking about language and macro-sociolinguistics.
Irish Studies has been a life-long passion. My Master of Philosophy degree at Trinity College, Dublin was in Anglo-Irish Literature in Cultural-Historical Contexts. My PhD culminated in research on The Nation’s Other: The Construction of Irish National Identity in the Context of British Colonialism and Emigration. I live in Dublin and have traveled extensively in Ireland.
Creative Thinking I am an award-winning writer, musician, and singer-songwriter who also loves visual art (photography, drawing and print-making). For several years, I was a contributing writer for a Village-Voice owned alternative weekly; I also wrote and published on Irish topics for different publications including The Harvard Gay and Lesbian Review.
The Irish language continues to surprise, inspire and delight me. She is currently my greatest teacher, showing me what we humans see in the world—and don’t. I hope you will join me and this growing, visionary community at The Gaelic Effect.
Is beag an splanc a lasann tine mhór. (Even the smallest spark can light the greatest fire.)
Who is The Gaelic Effect for?
Anyone who is interested in…
Language and how it impacts how we see and relate to the world
Beauty and draíocht (magic, wonder and awe)
Solace, inspiration and companionship) in these liminal, uncertain times
Hope for what’s possible: what we are truly capable of as human beings—at our best
Buíochas ó chroí (heartfelt thanks) for being here and looking forward to traveling together!
Dian, as Baile Átha Cliath (from Dublin)
“Liminal space is the uncertain transition between where you've been and where you're going physically, emotionally, or metaphorically. To be in a liminal space means to be on the precipice of something new but not quite there yet…” —Theodora Blanchfield
