Irish Rail Seeks Phrases Passengers Want for Pocket Guide

Iarnród Éireann is asking passengers to send in the Irish phrases they most want to use while travelling by rail, with submissions accepted through an online survey until 5pm on Monday, 30 November 2026. The call-out was launched at Killarney Train Station with Conradh na Gaeilge, and the responses will feed into a new Gaeilge Pocket Phrase Card for passengers.

The survey asks what people would like to say in Irish when asking about train times, finding a platform, ordering a coffee or talking with another passenger. It follows a 2025 survey from Iarnród Éireann and Conradh na Gaeilge that drew more than 7,100 responses. Over 65% of those surveyed said they felt positive about hearing Irish spoken on trains, while over one-third pointed to a lack of opportunities to use the language as a barrier to speaking it more often. The pocket guide is intended to make everyday conversations in Irish easier to have, alongside existing work such as Fáinne On Board and Gaeilge resources and training for Iarnród Éireann staff.

The launch in Killarney included young musicians from the town's Brú Ceoil, who played traditional music for passengers travelling to Oireachtas na Samhna. That festival, marking Irish-language arts and culture, runs in Killarney from 28 October to 1 November 2026. Iarnród Éireann is sponsoring the inaugural Croí Choláiste na Féile competition as part of its support for the festival. The contest is open to third-level Cumainn Ghaelacha, carries a €1,000 prize for the winning society, and awards points to groups for attending and taking part in events throughout the festival.

Iarnród Éireann and Conradh na Gaeilge are accepting phrase suggestions through the online survey until 5pm on Monday, 30 November 2026.