#GaelTok on TikTok: @cuan.deburca

This month, we are spotlighting #GaelTok comedians who are taking TikTok by stoirm! These talented creators celebrate Irish culture, language, and everyday life in a way that’s fun and relatable. Whether poking fun at familiar situations or creatively blending Irish with modern trends, they’re bringing a fresh, comedic twist to our native language. Cúán de Búrca is just one of these creators who seamlessly weaves his daily life and sharp wit into sketches as Gaeilge, creating a dynamic, laugh-out-loud experience.

An mhí seo, táimid ag cur an spotsholas ar fuirseoirí #GaelTok, a bhfuil greim acu ar TikTok faoi láthair! Tá na cruthaitheoirí cumasacha seo ag ceiliúradh cultúr, teanga, agus saol laethúil na hÉireann ar bhealach atá spraíúil agus sothuigthe. Cibé ag magadh faoi chúrsaí coitianta nó ag meascadh an Ghaeilge go cruthaitheach le treochtaí nua-aimseartha, tá siad ag tabhairt casadh úr greannmhar dár dteanga dhúchais. Níl Cúán de Búrca ach duine amháin de na cruthaitheoirí seo a fhíonn a shaol laethúil agus a ghéarchúis isteach i sceitseanna as Gaeilge, ag cruthú eispéireas fuinniúil a bhainfidh gáire ós ard asat.

C: Cad a spreag thú ar dtús chun físeáin a chruthú as Gaeilge ar TikTok? Q: What first inspired you to create videos as Gaeilge on TikTok? F: Tá an Ghaeilge chomh lárnach i mo shaol nár smaoinigh mé riamh ar é a dhéanamh ar bhealach ar bith eile! Tá mo chuid oibre agus mo shaol sóisialta go mór trí Ghaeilge; níorbh iontas ar bith é gur lean mo láithreacht ar líne an treo céanna. Chomh maith leis sin, ceapaim go bhfuil sé tábhachtach go bhfeiceann daoine níos mó ábhar Gaeilge, agus tá áthas orm mo chuid féin a dhéanamh chun é sin a thacú.
A: The Irish language is so central in my life I never considered doing it any other way! My work and social life are largely through Irish; it was only natural for my online presence to follow suit. Equally, I do think it’s important that people are exposed to more Irish language content, and I’m happy to do my part in making that happen.

C: Cad é an chuid is fearr faoi bheith i do fuirseoir Gaeilge ar TikTok? Q: What’s the best part about being an Irish-language comedian on TikTok?
F: Ar TikTok, maraon leis an bhfíorshaol, is í pobal na Gaeilge a dhéanann difear domsa. Tá pobal deas beag ar #GaelTok, le roinnt pearsana níos aitheanta agus ansin daoine atá díograiseach a gcúpla focal a úsáid. Cloiseann tú go leor faoi 'Athbheochan na Gaeilge' faoi láthair - is mothú deas é a bheith páirteach ann. Freisin, fuair mé milseáin saor in aisce uair amháin. Bhí sin spraíúil.
A: On TikTok, as in real life, the Irish language community is really what makes it for me. There’s a lovely little community on #GaelTok, with some more established personalities and then people who are keen to dip in and use their cúpla focal. You hear a lot about there being a ‘Gaelic Revival’ at the moment - it’s a nice feeling to be part of that. Also, I got free sweets once. That was fun.

C: Cén físeán TikTok a rinne tú i nGaeilge is mó a sheasann amach mar an ceann is fearr leat, agus cén fáth? Q: Which TikTok video you’ve made in Irish stands out as your favourite, and why? C: Rinne mé sceitse ag an Oireachtas (an fhéile mhór Ghaeilge/chultúrtha bhliantúil) ag ligean orm go raibh mé ag déanamh turgnaimh le ceimiceáin taighde agus go bhféadfainn daoine a mharú le mo 'chumhachtaí intinne'. Ba é sin mo rogha is dócha. Tá ceann eile a rinne mé le mo chara Ciara [@cinighall] ag magadh faoi dhaoine le polaitíocht níos clé nach dtugann ardán don Ghaeilge, rud a cheapaim gur comhrá fiúntach é. Ar deireadh, bíonn an-spraoi agam ag déanamh vloganna beaga le giotaí éagsúla ó mo lá.
A: I made a sketch at the Oireachtas (the big annual Irish language/cultural festival) pretending that I was experimenting with research chemicals and that I could kill people with my ‘mind powers’. That was probably my favourite. There’s also one I made with my mate Ciara [@cinighall] making fun of people with more left wing politics who don’t platform the Irish language, which I think is a conversation worth having. Finally, I have great fun making little vlogs with different clips from my day.

C: Cé hiad na Gaeilgeoirí is fearr leat a leanúint ar TikTok? Q: Who are your favourite Gaeilgoirs to follow on TikTok?
F: Is cairde liom iad [@ee_sult], [@stormasgaeilge], agus @annanicgafraidh] a chuireann ábhar saol/faisean iontach ar fáil. Tá mo chara maith [@murchadhmor] ag déanamh ábhar Gaeilge ó i bhfad sula raibh sé cool agus cuireann sé físeáin spraíúla thuas go minic. Tá roinnt cruthaitheoirí Gaeilge na hAlban ann freisin a thaitníonn liom, mar shampla [@ceartguleabhar0] - sílim go bhfuil sé tábhachtach dlúthpháirtíocht a bheith againn lenár gcomhGhaeil!
A: [@ee_sult], [@stormasgaeilge], and [@annanicgafraidh] are some mates of mine that put out great casual lifestyle/fashion content. My good friend [@murchadhmor] has been making Irish language content since long before it was cool and puts up fun videos. There’s also some Scots Gaelic creators I like, such as [@ceartguleabhar0] I think it’s important to have solidarity with our fellow Gaels!

C: Cén ról atá a ghreann leis an Ghaeilge a dhéanamh níos inrochtana? Q: What role does comedy play in making the Irish language more accessible?
F: Is é an teagmháil is mó atá ag formhór na ndaoine don Ghaeilge ná comharthaí sráide, obair bhaile, agus polaiteoirí ag sá an chúpla focal isteach ag deireadh óráide. Ní hábhar spéisiúil é sin. Sílim go bhfuil sé an-tábhachtach a thaispeáint do dhaoine gur teanga bheo í an Ghaeilge, go bhfuil pobal daoine ann a labhraíonn Gaeilge gach lá. Tá greann lárnach anseo - tá súil agam nuair a fheiceann daoine leaids i mbun craice trí Gaeilge, go dtuigeann siad go bhfuil an Ghaeilge ábhartha, bríomhar, agus spraíúil!
A: The vast majority of people’s exposure to Irish is limited to street signs, obair bhaile, and politicians shoehorning the cúpla focal into the end of a speech. Not exactly engaging. I think it’s really important to show people that Irish is a living language, that there’s a community of people who speak Irish every day. Comedy is central to this - I hope that when people see lads having the craic as Gaeilge, they realise that Irish is relevant, vibrant, and fun!

C: Conas a théann do lucht leanúna i ngleic le d'ábhar as Gaeilge? Q: How do your followers engage with your content as Gaeilge?
F: Tá meascán ann de dhaoine níos líofaí a bhféadfá comhrá a dhéanamh leo sna tráchtanna agus leaids atá ag baint úsáide as an méid beag atá acu chun trácht a fhágáil - tá meas agam ar éinne a ghlacann an t-am rud deas a rá. Faighim an oiread sin daoine ag fágáil tráchtanna ag iarraidh comhairle faoi fhoghlaim na Gaeilge, rud nach bhfuil ar mo láidreachtaí! B'fhéidir go labhraím Gaeilge ach ní múinteoir Gaeilge mé agus ní dhíríonn mé gach rud a dhéanaim ar thosaitheoirí.
A: There’s a mixture of more fluent people whom you might converse with in the comments and lads that are using the little bit that they have to leave a comment - I appreciate anyone who takes the time to say something nice. I get so many people commenting asking for advice learning Irish, which is not my strong suit! I might speak Irish but I’m not an Irish teacher and I don’t necessarily aim everything I make at beginners.

C: Cén chomhairle a thabharfá do dhuine ar mhaith leis tús a chur le hábhar a chruthú as Gaeilge ach nach bhfuil muiníneach go hiomlán sa teanga fós?
Q: What advice would you give to someone who wants to start making content as Gaeilge but isn’t fully confident in the language yet?
F: Díreach téigh ar aghaidh leis! Ceapaim gur spás an-dearfach é, tá fonn ar dhaoine a gcuid Gaeilge a úsáid, is cuma cé mhéid atá acu, agus tacú le héinne eile atá ag déanamh an rud céanna. Feiceann tú a lán daoine a raibh deacrachtaí acu leis an nGaeilge ar scoil ag iarraidh dul isteach ann arís ar TikTok, agus fiú daoine nua sa tír a chaith iad féin isteach ann, rud a chuireann áthas ar mo chroí. Is é an t-aon rud amháin atá ag cur bac ar dhaoine a nGaeilge a fheabhsú ná easpa muiníne, ach ní fheabhsóidh tú riamh mura ndéanann tú cleachtadh!
A: Just go for it! I think it’s a very positive space, people are excited to use whatever amount of Irish they have and support anyone else doing the same. You see a lot of people who struggled with Irish at school trying to dive into it again on TikTok, and even newcomers to the country who’ve thrown themselves into it, which is heartening. The number one thing holding people back from improving their Irish is lack of confidence, but you’ll never improve if you don’t practice!

C: Cén nath Gaeilge nó jóc a cheapann tú gur chóir do níos mó daoine a bheith ar eolas faoi?
Q: What’s one Irish phrase or joke you think more people should know?
F: Tá sean-bheannacht óil a thaitníonn liom - 'Talamh gan chíos agat, leanbh gach bliain agat, fear/bean ar do mhian agat, gob fliuch, fad saoil agus bás in Éirinn!' Is fearr é ná 'sláinte', dar liomsa!
A: There’s an ould drinking blessing I like - ‘Talamh gan chíos agat, leanbh gach bliain agat, fear/bean ar do mhian agat, gob fliuch, fad saoil agus bás in Éirinn!’ (May you have land without rent, a child every year, the husband/wife of your choice, a wet beak (from drink!), a long life and a death in Ireland). Beats ‘sláinte’, if you ask me!