In Ireland, the art of conversation / crua-chaint is highly valued. We like to 'put a skin on a story' / craiceann a chur ar scéal because words are not just words to us. They are alive, carrying echoes of where they’ve been and taking us and the English language to new places.

Writer Micheál Ó Conghaile has chosen his favourite everyday Irish words and he shows you how to weave them into your own crua-chaint. Some will surprise you with their Irish origins – galore, hooligan and, of course, shenanigans. And some, such as amadán / fool, bacaidí / bockety, fústar / busy, grá / love and rírá / uproar, will take your Irish conversation to the next level.

Micheál Ó Conghaile was born in Galway and studied Irish and History at the local National University of Ireland. He is a prolific and versatile writer who has been awarded many prizes for his work. His novel and several of his short story collections are available in English translation.