Dear Tucker, I congratulate you on your interest in Irish music and culture. Why don't you try to find an Irish or Scots Gaelic language class and/or organization near to you and learn more? I do believe that your heart is in the right place and I encourage you to find out all that you can about your ancestors. However, Annraoi and Martin are absolutely right to respond to the original inquiry in the Irish language. If you would like to ask a question in English, go ahead -- we speak that too!

As for the Irish or Scots-Irish of many Americans and their ability to speak Gaeilge (Irish) or Gaidhlig (Scots) -- very many of them did (and still do to this day). You would be surprised to find out how many 'Americanisms' or turns of speech come from one or both of these languages; especially in the South, where I was born and raised. Good luck to you!

A Annraoi agus A Mhartin -- Maith sibh a chairde! Le meas, Aine