I am trying to figure out what "Talk Irish" at talkirish.com actually is. It doesn't appear to be a corporation, since it takes "donations," and its courses are freakishly inexpensive by market standards. Is it a non-profit? Partially or entirely government-funded? I googled and couldn't find information on it, nor is there an "About" section on its website that I can find. Thank you!

The course uses the materials in Buntús Cainte, so most of the "hard work" was done in the 1960's by the Irish government, through RTÉ and an Gúm.

The TalkIrish people have dressed it up nicely in new software, revitalised it and made it available over the internet. Fair play to them. They appear to be based in Belfast.

Since they are charging for the service, however inexpensively, I'd still call that "for profit" - but the material is a lot sounder than much of the rubbish being produced nowadays. They are most likely paying royalties for its use.

_________________
Múinteoir Gaeilge - Irish Teacher
My "specialty" is Connemara Irish, particularly Cois Fhairrge dialect, but I can also speak Ulster and Munster Irish with native-level pronunciation.
Is fearr Gaeilge ḃriste ná Béarla cliste, cinnte, aċ i ḃfad níos fearr aríst í Gaeilge ḃinn ḃeo na nGaeltaċtaí.
Gaeilge Chonnacht (GC), go háraid Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge (GCF), Gaeilic Uladh (GU), Gaelainn na Mumhan (GM), agus Gaeilge an Chaighdeáin Oifigiúil (CO).

Thank you, Breandán! This was very helpful. I have to say, I love the application; I think it's incredibly helpful for pronunciation.

You might like to know that the Buntús Cainte books and CDs are still available - from Litríocht for example. I find that the conversation goes just little bit too fast and then suddenly you're onto the next chapter. I can put it on to audio-cassette and put spaces in where I want to, so it's easier to take it in, but there aren't that many people who have that possibility nowadays.
http://www.litriocht.com/shop/product_i ... ts_id=3164 There are excerpts from the original television programme on YouTube with the ladies in their perms that were so typical of the 60's.

Thank you, Franc. And thank you to everyone else who has been answering my questions. So helpful! I posted a review of this forum on my website, by the way: http://ellenjovin.com/review/irish-language-forum. It is such a wonderful resource for students of Irish.

Thank you Ellen !

_________________
___________________________________________________________

It is recommended that you always wait for three to agree on a translation.
I speak Connemara Irish, and my input will often reflect that.
I will do an mp3 file on request for short translations.
___________________________________________________________

_________________