What Is *An Gael*, the Irish Language Magazine from the Philo-Celtic Society?

Updated

An Gael is the Irish language magazine published by the Philo-Celtic Society (Cumann Carad Na Gaeilge), the organization that has taught Irish since 1872. The society's website presents it simply as "The Irish Language Magazine for Everyone" and lists it as a distinct section of the site alongside the society's classes, history, and newsletter. If you are looking for the magazine itself, the site's An Gael entry is the starting point; the homepage does not list issue contents, subscription terms, or a price.

What the website tells you

The homepage of philo-celtic.com identifies the organization and its purpose in a few lines:

  • Organization: The Philo-Celtic Society (Cumann Carad Na Gaeilge)
  • Stated mission: "Teaching the Irish language since 1872"
  • Magazine listing: An Gael — "The Irish Language Magazine for Everyone"
  • Other sections: Who We Are, Our Classes, History, Newsletter, and a link to join the e-Gaeltacht

The magazine appears as a named item in the site's navigation, not as a separate storefront. That means the site confirms the magazine exists and is associated with the society, but the homepage excerpt does not describe its format, frequency, or how to obtain it.

Who it is for

The site's own description — "for Everyone" — is the clearest statement of audience. It sits alongside a class program that the society says welcomes "an absolute beginner or a native speaker," so the magazine is presented as part of a broader offering that assumes no fixed level of Irish. Readers with an interest in the language but no connection to the classes are not excluded by anything on the page.

How to find it and what to check

Because the homepage only names the magazine, use the site itself to answer the practical questions:

  1. Open philo-celtic.com and select the An Gael entry in the site navigation.
  2. On that page, look for how issues are distributed — whether content is posted online, offered as a download, or tied to membership.
  3. Check the newsletter signup on the homepage if you want updates; the form asks only for an email address and states that information is not sold to third parties.
  4. If the magazine page is thin, use the "Learn More" and "Get started" links, or the e-Gaeltacht join link, to reach a contact point for the society.

The site does not state a price for the magazine, and the absence of pricing information should not be read as confirmation that it is free. Confirm terms on the magazine's own page or by contacting the society.

Where it fits in the organization

An Gael is one of several ways the Philo-Celtic Society reaches people: free classes for learners at all levels, a history section covering the society since 1872, a newsletter, and the e-Gaeltacht. The magazine is best understood as the society's publication arm for readers of Irish, complementing the instruction offered through its classes. If your goal is structured learning, the classes are the relevant entry; if your goal is reading material in Irish, An Gael is the section to visit first.