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Her childhood interests included dancing, horse-riding, playing the violin, writing, and reading. “I read a book a day for a long time,” she says, “and I won a national write a book competition when I was 12.” Mollie developed an early interest in the Irish language — although not as it was taught at school. “I taught my American cousins Irish culture — some dancing steps and some Irish words when I was seven years old,” she says. I was always aware that the Irish language was interesting. During her college summers, Mollie travelled around India. She volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, building houses in South Africa. She continued to travel after graduating. She was a pony girl and counsellor at a Swiss summer camp,and she taught English in the Basque Country, Andalusia, Budapest, and Portugal. “I was also a skiing rep,” she says. Saving up to teach English and Zumba on a UN accredited peace boat, Mollie taught Irish one to one for Italki: An organisation that promotes minority languages. “There was huge demand, but it felt exploitative, so I created Irish with Mollie,” she says. “My calendar soon became full, with students worldwide.” Who is Mollie Guidera? Date/ place of birth: 1991/ Dublin. Education: Loretto Dalkey; Trinity Dublin, English; University of Cambridge CELTA course, certificate of English language teaching for adults. Home: Dublin. The day job: Educator, writer, and language activist. “My job is very diverse. I have many thousands of students in 70 countries. I give them daily support through Zoom meet-ups, podcasts, webinars, and weekly lessons for life.” In another life: “I’d be a marine biologist who scuba dives every day.” Favourite writers: Anne Patchett; Miranda July; William Trevor; Leo Tolstoy. Second book: “I’d love to write short stories in Irish, making them engaging and accessible.” Top tip: “Consistency is key. Commit to the page.” Website: www.irishwithmollie.com Instagram: @irishwithmollie The Gaeilge Guide Hachette Books Ireland, €19.99 This practical guide explains Irish in a fun, joyful way. Mollie interlaces stories and her own biography with useful words and phrases. The verdict: Brilliant. As a non-Irish speaker, I found this guide comprehensive, enlightening, and hugely inspiring.
