WTF – What The Focal? …Play Games, Learn & Share Irish!
What The Focal is a spás spraoi—a games night and a place for fun.
Whether you want to learn, share, or speak a cúpla focal, this playful and inclusive space is for you! No experience needed—just bring your enthusiasm.
Dive into easy-going board games, good company, and great vibes.
Saor in aisce — Free! Everyone’s welcome.
Ócáid—Event details
🟢 Saor in aisce — Free
🕢 7.30pm – 9.30pm
- Luan 12 Bealtaine — Mon 12 May
- Luan 09 Meitheamh — Mon 09 June
- Luan 14 Lúil – Mon 14 July
7.30 pm - 9.30 pm
FREE! Sign up below
What The Focal is a spás spraoi, a games night and a place for fun. We’re serving you easy-going board games so you can use your cúpla focal in a playful and inclusive space and feel bród—proud using beagán Irish or mór, as you wish.
No shade here, is cuma linn, we don’t mind—whatever your level or your scéal. Even if you’ve never spoken a word of Irish before, you’re fáilte isteach! All you need is enthusiasm. This is a space for everyone—whether you’re fluent, rusty, or just curious, come along and boost your Gaeilge grá with our friendly fuinneamh—vibes.
WTF is a bilingual Gaeilge-Béarla Games Night co-created by the mnásome duo Mary Ellen Saha and Naomi Elster, two west London scríbhneoirí—writers and not-quite-there-yet Gaeilgeoirs.
Whether you’re ag ceangal arís, reconnecting, with the Irish you learned in school which may be meirgeach—rusty, or (re)discovering Ireland’s teanga beo through classes, pop culture or social media, our doras is wide open. No pressure, no tests—just good company, good games, and good vibes.
Bígí linn on the first Monday of every month for cluichí and cráic, where you can tóg go bóg é—take it easy, spill the tea and enjoy a Guinness.
So what you waiting for? Put on your brat brí—cloak of courage and get yourself to WTF in Hammersmith, where your Irish is maith go leor—good enough, as it is.
All ages and identities welcome. No experience needed. Just bring yourself!
What People Are Saying About WTF…
“I went to the first What The Focal last night and I wanted to say a heartfelt Go raibh mile maith agat. It’s SUCH a fantastic idea! “
“I’ve been looking and hoping for something like this for ages to try and practice and improve the few words of Gaeilge I have.”
“I was almost afraid to show up because my Irish is so poor, but I’m very glad I did, Bhí sé an spraoi—fun! “
“Everyone was so friendly and welcoming and the games were a great idea to get things going and give us a chance to try and think and talk in a bit of Gaeilge”
“ THANK YOU! It was such a lovely friendly, supportive environment”
”I can’t begin to tell you how much I enjoyed myself. I have even learnt a few more words from cairde nua—new friends ”
A Rhyme for the Focal—Our Games Night in a Poem
Step into the rhythm of What The Focal with this playful poem that captures the heart of our Gaeilge-Béarla games night—where words flow, laughter echoes, and everyone is welcome. No pressure, no perfection—just fun, fóclóir and fáilte!
Poem
Embrace our teanga beo,
With Scrabble nó Cluedo,
Lean ar aghaidh—let’s go!
Not líofa yet with grá of Irish,
Ar bís & self-confidence rising,
Ag imirt cártaí & board games.
Living it! Loving it! No náire—shame.
If you feel eagla, sure what harm!
Ná bac! Try a focal & gáire ós árd,
Come as you are, you are réidh,
In WTF we tóg go bog é!
Fáilte gach aon duine,
Chatting le chéile,
An open doras to labhairt free,
At our Gaeilge-Béarla games spraoi.
For those interested in other Irish language related events, check out Beo-tiful Bealtaine and Mnátra Irish Meditation.
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