What if ordering a coffee could help push the Irish language?

What if ordering a coffee could help push the Irish language?

That’s the question that sparked Cupán Focail — literally “a cup of words” — at the Craicathon, Ireland’s first Irish-speaking hackathon at Dogpatch Labs in Dublin.

We’re Nicola and David, and we believe the Irish language doesn’t belong locked away in textbooks or classrooms. It belongs in the everyday — in the queue at your local café, on the menu board, in the smile you get when you say “Go raibh maith agat” instead of “thanks”.

How it works

Cupán Focail connects three things: cafés that want to welcome Irish into their space, learners who want to use Irish in real life, and technology that makes it all feel effortless.

Here’s the idea:

• Find a café — Browse our interactive map to discover cafés and Irish cultural centres that are part of the Cupán Focail network.

• Learn what to say — Short, practical lessons teach you exactly what you need: how to order a flat white, say hello, or ask for the bill. No fluency required.

• Order as Gaeilge — Walk in, use your Irish, tap the NFC tag at the counter, and collect a stamp.

You don’t need to be líofa. You just need a cupán.

Why cafés?

Language lives in the small moments. The three-second exchange at a counter. The menu you glance at while waiting. The barista who replies “Seo duit” when they hand you your cup.

Cafés are the perfect environment for this — they’re warm, social, low-pressure, and part of your daily routine. If we can make Irish feel as natural as ordering your usual, we’ve done something meaningful.

Built in Belfast agus Dublin

We started at the Craicathon with a prototype and a lot of caffeine. Since then, we’ve been working with cafés across Belfast to bring Irish onto menus, train baristas in everyday phrases, and build an app that makes the whole experience fun.

Our platform includes:

• An interactive map of participating venues

• Bite-sized Irish lessons tailored to café situations

• An NFC-powered stamp card with real rewards

• A blog (you’re reading it!) where we share stories from the community

• And yes — Cupán Focail Radio, our curated playlist of Irish music to set the mood

This is just the start

We’re actively partnering with more cafés and Irish cultural centres across Ireland. If you run a café and want to bring Irish into your space, or if you’re a learner looking for a fun way to practise, we’d love to hear from you.

Sign up for free, find a café near you, and give it a go. Even if all you know is “Dia dhuit” — that’s enough. That’s a cupán focail.

Lean isteach

Follow our journey on Instagram at @cupanfocail, or get in touch through our contact page. We’d love to hear your story.

Sláinte,
Nicola agus David