How on earth did Irish become fashionable? Once upon a time, the typical Irish speaker conjured up an image of elbow patches, tweed jackets and snuff - a hurley in one hand, a Tricolour in the other and a fáinne given pride of place on the lapel.

Youth and excitement were not exactly part of that landscape. But something has happened. Irish has become a cult phenomenon. The standard of Irish in the general population has hardly shot through the roof, but the kudos for those who make an effort with the language certainly has.

The rise of Gaelscoileanna, and so the number of young Irish speakers, helps, as do the youth orientation of many TG4 programmes and the celebrity of Irish speakers such as Sharon Ní Bheoláin, Síle and Gráinne Seoige and even Hector Ó hEochagáin.

So now people agree with David McWilliams, the writer and broadcaster, when he refers to an Irish-language community radio station as the trendiest in Dublin.

Irish is a huge advantage to anybody wanting to break into the media, and Raidió na Life 106.4FM, Dublin's local Irish-language station, is proving a fruitful source of work experience for transition-year students.

"We try to accommodate as many students as possible," says Maebh Ní Fhallúin, the station's manager. "It's great for students to make a positive link between Irish and a working radio station. In one sense we're all about the Irish, but in a way we're not at all. We have really good music programmes, and we offer a lot of freedom in that respect. There's so much talent about the place."

With a full-time paid staff of only three, and a heavy broadcasting schedule to deal with, there is plenty for a volunteer or work-experience student to do. "It's been deadly," says Patrick Schaler, who is coming to the end of a week with the station. He has been working with fellow transition-year students Barra O'Leidhin, Stephanie Kelly and Robert O'Connor on all sorts of projects. "Myself and Patrick went and recorded a vox pop on Grafton Street," says Robert. "And we get to record our own individual programmes as well."

A small station has its advantages for students, as access to equipment and the scope to experiment are often greater than they would be in a larger operation. "I've been here for two weeks, and I've done a bit of everything," says Stephanie. "I've been organising programmes and helping with the research," says Barra. "It can be tough enough to find people with Irish, but I managed to get Caoimhe Máirtín for a piece about Marino Institute of Education." Stephen has been getting to grips with the more technical end of things with station engineer Fearghal Saxe.

Only some of the students come from Gaelscoileanna. Stephanie is a student at St Joseph's College in Lucan, but she is well aware of the benefits of the cúpla focail. "It's easier to break into the media with Irish," she says. "Sharon Ní Bheoláin started off here. That'll be me in the future!"

Muiris O'Fiannachta, Raidió na Life's director of programmes, works with many of the students. "If someone is self-motivated it's a huge advantage," he says. "Drive and good people skills are a massive plus, and, if you're researching, a pleasant telephone manner is very important."

"If you can think for yourself, that's always great," says Ní Fhallúin. "You give some students a task and they come back with something brilliant. It's very hands-on here, and some cope with that better than others."

There are always good opportunities if you're motivated, however. Summer is a particularly good time to get some experience. "It's great," says Patrick. "You're learning Irish and getting media experience; it's two for one."

To contact Raidió na Life 106.4FM call 01-6616333