This study explores how non-Irish learners of Irish Gaelic in Ontario, Canada handle authenticity and legitimization questions as members of the Irish language network. Learners without Irish legacy oft express a coincidence or hobby-akin link, in contrast to usual Irish diaspora motives that frequently relate to participants' sense of Irish identity. Many are eloquent speakers with established participation in the network, and are licensed by sharing ideologies that underline an ancient character to the language, and as musicians or holders of costly linguistic and cultural cognition.