Thank god for my time in Ireland

[McClef]

I think Paul meant in the sense that they do not contain many similar elements.

Norwegians, Swedes, Danes and Icelanders for example can get a large degree of understanding when addressing each other in their own tongues whereas Welsh speakers and Gaelic speakers find it almost impossible to comprehend each other. Even the orthographical and pronunciation systems are different.

I may be about to help a Singapore choir whose director picked a Welsh carol to be sung at Christmas because he thought a lady from Northern Ireland who speaks Gaelic could assist with the pronunciation!

[Lallans]

Per an earlier post, roses and apples are in fact quite closely related. Anyway all the Gaelic languages are scions of the same root language and while Welsh does seem to be unique when written, it's quite likely any profound present-day speaking differences crept in due to revivals- combined with regional accents- as much as anything. Remember Patrick, he could travel the Celtic world and immediately be understood even though his speech was considered 'strange' by some.