A central part to any visit to the Gaeltacht is the Bean an Tí. We have houses of the highest standard in Árainn Mhór. Irish is the spoken language of these houses and this affords the student ample opportunity to practice the Irish he/she may have learnt during the morning classes. Inspectors from the department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands examine these houses on a regular basis to ensure that high standards are being met. The Bean an Tí follows a menu, which has previously been agreed with the College authorities. Any special requirements should be made known to the college beforehand. Each student will have his / her own bed and it is usual for about 4 students to share a room. “Cinnirí” stay in most of the houses with the students. These are young adults (c. 19-23) of a high moral character who have achieved a high degree of fluency in the language. These young men and women are chosen for their ability to encourage and motivate students and to assist those students who have difficulty in settling in or who have other problems. Most houses are within easy walking distance of the College centres. Buses/Taxis are provided in bad weather to take student home to houses which are further away.