Athbhliain faoi mhaise daoibh go léir!

Then I started looking for some of my favourite places in Ireland and found them of course. But Street View isn’t just good for looking up places you’ve already been to, it’s great for looking up how places you are going to go to actually look. Ok, some may say it’s spoiling the surprise. If you think that, then just don’t use it. I know I’ll be using it to revive the old memories of the things seen and to plan the future trips (you can never rely on those GPSs and maps!).

Here are some print screens of the places I looked up today.

A house on a road in Connemara (I have made dozens of pictures of that beautiful place)

The most beautiful place on Earth (B&B website: http://www.sleaheadfarm.com/)

The only problem with these images is that they are sunny, a rare occasion in Ireland. But it sure does the scenery justice! How did Google manage to arrange a sunny day/sunny days for their visit, I don’t know, but they are powerful!

Check out more street views at Google Maps.

This was my fourth trip to Conamara and this one in particular was with a purpose of meeting some local Irish speakers in An Cheathrú Rua. On my second and my third trip I was mostly just driving around for a day, stopping in pubs and shops, therefore I was not too upset over the fact that I did not hear much Irish spoken. The first trip included an overnight stay in a B&B whose owners spoke Irish, but that was as far as it went. This time around, however, we mingled with the locals and despite their special Conamara twang it was easy to hear that the old and the young were speaking Irish (except one waitress in Pádraicín’s, but that’s just outised of Gaeltacht and we forgave her).

As I only have a couple of words of Irish and can’t seem to make it to any courses available, I was just listening. Normally, listening to the “Clare Irish” I’m used to, I can pick up several words and understand the meaning of the conversation (sometimes maybe even surprising people with my knowledge when they thought they could keep secrets from me!). With Conamara Irish it was a completely different story! Nothing, neamhní is an understatement. But I kept on trying anyway and on the second day I was able to pick up words again.

When I was telling this story to the native speaker she confirmed the known fact that Conamara Irish is a bit special. For example, they tend to not say the letter “r”. Which makes a carr a “kah” and madra is “mada”. But what made my experience even more special was when I asked her how do they say práta and I got a blank face. So I tried to correct my pronunciation – práta. Another blank. So giving up on my Irish completely I said: “You know, práta, potato!”

“Aaaah,” was the reply, “fata, that’s what we call them!” And that’s a fata with a very soft “t”, hardly recognisable for me. But the Irish speakers understood each other and that is all that matters.

Here are some pictures from the trip.

Copyright GaeltachtTravel.com

Copyright GaeltachtTravel.com

Copyright GaeltachtTravel.com

Copyright GaeltachtTravel.com

Copyright GaeltachtTravel.com

Copyright GaeltachtTravel.com

Copyright GaeltachtTravel.com

Copyright GaeltachtTravel.com

Copyright GaeltachtTravel.com

In Gaeltachtaí the road signs are only in Irish so make sure you have an appropriate map.

The old and the new.

One is in An Ghaeltacht and one isn't.

The sign dump!

Sick of your road sign? Dump it here for €9.99 per week!

Irish fear and respect for the signs…

No fear whatsoever.

Obey the rules or you'll pay!

Make sure you don't park in areas liable to flooding!

A selection of non-road signs, but amusing nonetheless.

At the Cliffs of Moher.

Don't fall over the cliff!

Scoop the poop! (A poet and don't know it?)

Back on the road! The roads in Ireland can rarely take the speed limit. Sometimes the safe speed is the actual speed limit halved.

For example here...

...or here...

Sometimes they try to confuse you:

Like in this case.

And sometimes they’re not completely sure themselves which way the sign should be facing:

?!?!??

What they meant to say was: Road WAS flooded (months ago).

Leprechauns this way!

Leprechauns left!

And cows to the right.

Some serious signs now!

Well, soomebody didn't see the sign!

Tiomáin go mall (drive slowly).

You'll know to go slowly when the car turns upside down. Which is useful, I guess...

I think James Joyce ran out of paper and started writing one of his novels here.

At a St. Patrick's Day parade. "Kiss me I'm Irish".

Recently I had an email conversation with a lady who was deeply offended by the use of Póg mo thóin phrase on www.irish-sayings.com. She found it deeply offensive to Irish culture. At the time I thought the problem was the Irish phrase, but the more I read the emails, the more I think it was the English translation of “mo thóin” that was the problem – the fact that “my ass” was written where anybody could see it. At the moment I am not sure what was offensive to her – was it the expression itself and the meaning of it, or the rudeness of the English translation (ass rather than bottom) and the accessibility of it to young and susceptible individuals, or maybe even the mixture of both. The fact is that Póg mo thóin is the most popular phrase on irish-sayings.com, listened to more than 1 million times! Therefore it’s located on the top of the page where everybody entering the page can see it.

I find neither Irish phrase nor English translation offensive at all.  Tóin is not a derogatory expression and there are much harsher words in English than ass. It must have been the negative connotation of the word ass in relation to the clean image of tóin that upset the lady.

Fast food in Ireland on St. Patrick's Day.

I find the phrase Póg mo thóin a tourist attraction, created for the amusement of millions of tourists who come visit Ireland every year. Would it be better for sensitive individuals if it was translated Kiss my bottom or buttocks, backside, rear or seat? Or would it be better, in their opinion, if it didn’t exist at all?

For me, Póg mo thóin was the first phrase I learned. From it I learned that póg means a kiss or to kiss, I also learned that mo means my, that thóin is actually tóin and means butt and that the letter h in thóin was there to express the case of the word.

Pretty much information in 3 words, don’t you think? And this is why I don’t find it offensive.

Seachtain na Gaelige is celebrating everything Irish – the language, music, culture, food and drinks. Events include everything from speed dating, conversational evenings to street céilís. Seachtain na Gaelige is a festival of Irishness organized by different organizations, schools, libraries, music, sporting and cultural bodies and local councils. Every year a CD with Irish popular music in Irish comes out, made especially to promote Irish language and music.

For all listed events in your area and other news check out Seachtain na Gaelige website.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY!

Want to learn some Irish words and phrases and get ready for the big day? irish-sayings.com can help you with that! There are more than 400 Irish words and phrases recorded by native Irish speakers, some of them even in three irish dialects – Munster, Connacht and Ulster! Learning Irish can be quite easy. “Teach me! Irish Gaelic” and “On the road Irish Gaelic” will give you a good grasp of Irish language.

If you’re interested in getting a celtic themed tattoo, a wedding ring engraving or just need a simple translation for your homework, you can ask on Irish translations forum irishgaelictranslator.com or look it up in this collaborative Irish dictionary, where you can also add words and translations you already know! Works both ways!

Allowed on St. Patrick's Day.

St. Patrick’s Day is only a few weeks away. In exactly 2 weeks time the St. Patrick’s Festival 2010 is starting in Dublin. This year on from 12th to 17th of March it offers a great variety of fun and culture for the whole family, with the main event happening on 17th March, of course, the Parade!

In Cork, the festival is a bit shorter. the three days off activities will take place on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th March, and of course on Wednesday, St. Patrick’s Day.

Galway will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day from 13th to 17th March with numerous activities and events all around the city.

The parade in Limerick is promising to be the second biggest one in the country, with Festival on from 13th to 17th March including the International Band Parade happening on the Sunday, 14th march, and the main event on the 17th, this year themed I Love Limerick!

The parade in Limerick in 2009

Limerick Band Parade 2007

Limerick Band Parade 2007

Rain, sleet, snow, the show goes on! Limerick Band Parade 2007.

Pick your own and don’t forget to have fun!!

Gaillimh and Conamara make for one of the largest Irish speaking areas in Ireland. Especially in Conamara you can see and hear Irish used in everyday life.

Conamara was the place where Des Bishop, a famous Irish stand-up comedian, decided to move to for a year to learn enough Irish to pass the Junior Cert exams and prove that the language isn’t that difficult at all. All you need is some passion and understanding. The cameras were following Des around Conamara for a year and produced a great programme called In the name of the Fada.

You can spend weeks exploring Conamara, hiking, cycling or driving around, however, if you’re limited in time the following day trip might suit you best!

Conamara Gaeltacht driving route with the best spots.

Starting off in Gaillimh follow the coastal road (R336) all the way to Casla (Costelloe). You can stop on the lovely beaches along the way for a picnic or just to take a few photographs. The views are amazing.

The recommended route continues to the North, but if you have an extra hour to spend, drive into An Cheathrú Rua (Carraroe), which is full of Irish language wherever you look.

Drive back to R336 and follow the signs to Maam Cross, where you will turn left onto N59, direction Clifden. The road from Casla to Maam Cross is pretty quiet and you can stop along the road to admire the scenery.

The lanscape here is full of lakes of different shapes and sizes. The water in the lakes is dark and it gives them a bottomless, magical feel.

Once you’re on N59, drive for 10 km until you reach Cappaghoosh. Less than a kilometer after that, there is a turn for a small road that looks like it’s not going to bring you anywhere, but if you just persist and follow it, it will reward you with a great experience of the old Ireland.

When you see this, you're on the right way (But don't do 80km/h, the road won't take it)

Turf.

Local Garda with the blue light on.

This is the way to go!

The road doesn't get any better, but the views do.

Back to the main road! Turn right at this junction.

This is where you reach the main road again, this time it’s R344. It will bring you back to the N59, but as N59 is a circular road, make sure you follow the signs for Kylemore this time.

There are many things to admire here, but Kylemore is especially renowned for it’s Abbey…

The beautiful Kylemore Abbey.

… and the Connemara National Park.

Connemara National Park

Flora...

...and fauna

There’s a café, restaurant and a gift shop in Kylemore Abbey if you need a break at this point.

From Kylemore continue on the N59, direction Clifden, until you spot the signs for the Sky Road. The Sky Road drive is a magnificent experience and well worth tackling those bumpy roads.

The beginning of the Sky Road drive.

Sky Road

The view of the islands.

The end of the Sky Road will bring you into Clifden, a charming little town at the mouth of a fjord like bay. Take a short break from driving if you need to and then continue driving on the R341, direction Callow and Murvey. This is just under 40 kms of beautiful sea views and bare and rugged landscape.

The beach near Derrygimla.

Continue driving on this road until you reach the N59 again. This time turn the Galway way and drive straight to it as there are some great restaurants and pubs waiting for you to explore there!

Loophead peninsula is the most western point of County Clare. It is scarcely populated, with only three villages sitting on it: Kilbaha, Cross and Carrigaholt.

The tourists don’t normally venture much further than Kilkee, which is the last big town before the tranquility of the roaring waves of the Atlantic. Kilkee is an attraction of its own. It is something of a surfing paradise with a long sand beach situated in a lovely round bay and it’s also a host to Cois Fharraige Surf and Music Festival in the summer.

The beach in Kilkee. Copyright GaeltachtTravel.com.

There is 25 kilometres of magnificent landscape and stunning views between Kilkee and the tip of Loophead peninsula, which houses the Loophead Lighthouse. On the way you can visit The Bridges of Ross,The Ionad Cois Cuain Memorial Garden and The Five Pilots Memorial in Kilbaha and The Little Ark.

If you follow the signposts for Loophead Lighthouse and continue to the end of the road, you will be rewarded with a view of some of the most beautiful cliffs in Ireland.

The way to go! Copyright GaeltachtTravel.com.

The Lighthouse is surrounded by a long white wall and not normally accessible to public. However, you can walk around the wall to admire the scenery.

The road to the Atlantic. Copyright GaeltachtTravel.com.

The Loophead Lighthouse. Copyright GaeltachtTravel.com.

Starting to the left and circling the Lighthouse clockwise, you will first walk down a hill that flattens out on the top of a fairly low, but nonetheless very vicious looking cliff. When the winds are strong and the sea swells are great be very careful and do not approach the edges of the cliffs! From this point you can see County Kerry and it’s magnificent mountains rolling into the Ocean.

The scary waves. Copyright GaeltachtTravel.com.

The view of Kerry. Copyright GaeltachtTravel.com.

Continuing around the wall to the other side of the Lighthouse you will reach the steep cliffs that are home to numerous birds. Sometimes you can see dolphins swimming far below.

If you continue on the path that’s like a carpet made of grass, you will be able to cast your eye on the most amazing natural beauty of the cliffs. It might be tempting to go to the edge of the cliff, but be careful as there is no fence to protect you from falling even on a quiet day!

The carpet made of grass. Copyright GaeltachtTravel.com.

Do not try this at home! Copyright GaeltachtTravel.com.

This is how tranquil it can be:

Quite different from this:

In January 2008. Copyright GaeltachtTravel.com.

Or this:

In June 2009

On the way back, rather than driving the way you came, turn left on a small local road that goes along the coast and joins the main road to Kilkee again at Feeard.

The way back. Copyright GaeltachtTravel.com.

Roofless curch. Copyright GaeltachtTravel.com.

The view from Slea Head Farm, Dingle/An Daingean Gaeltacht, Co. Kerry.

Travelling around the Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking region), of course an important part of it is where to rest your sleepy head after a long day. There are actually so many accommodation options available to you, it’s difficult to decide on where to stay.

When picking a place to stay, be it in Dingle/An Daingean in Kerry, Connemara in Galway or up in Donegal, there’s a couple of rules I set out for picking where to stay. This should help you when you’re doing your own travel research.

1. Prefer B&Bs (bed and breakfast accommodation) over hotels. A B&B is always family-run, and you will always be greeted by the proprietor. They’ll have the top tips for you on where to visit in the region.
2. Choose a B&B where the family speaks Irish (Gaelic). The only way to find this out is to ask the proprietor. You’ll be able to hear the language being spoken, and you’ll be supporting these locals.

I’ve stayed in places in many of the Gaeltacht regions. Of all of them, Slea Head Farm (also called Feirm Chinn Sléibhe) has been my favourite. It is based at the tip of the Dingle Peninsula, in the Gaeltacht of Co. Kerry. Caitlín, the proprietor, is an Irish speaker. What’s more, the views from here B&B are spectacular, as you can see from the photo above. Be sure to book yourself in for at least a night there.

That’s my favourite place to stay in the Gaeltacht. What’s yours?

Modern usage of the Irish language: BláthInis Garden Centre. Photo by Imeallach on Flickr. All rights reserved by Imeallach.

Irish is a “small” language. It’s not dominant in its own country of Ireland. But it has had a huge underlying effect on Ireland’s modern culture, and you can spot its influence further afield, to where the Irish have travelled across the (Anglo) world. It’s alive, and getting stronger. Let’s get some thing cleared up!
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1. You might call it “Irish Gaelic”. We simply call it “Irish”.

First, when speaking in the language, the language is referred to as “An Ghaeilge“. When referring to the language when speaking in English, the Irish simply call it “Irish”. It is universally recognised as such, and there’s no need for a qualifier like “Gaelic”.

You can keep calling it Irish Gaelic if you like, if you already do. But if visiting Ireland, just refer to it as Irish. You’ll also see references to simply “Gaelic” when the Iish language is meant. This is where it gets a bit controversial. Rather, the Irish when referring to “Gaelic” generally (but not strictly…) mean Scottish Gaelic.

2. Irish is a Celtic language

Irish is closely related to Manx (Gaelg/Gailck) and Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig). For example, written Scottish Gaelic is quite comprehensible for an Irish speaker. Other Celtic languages include Welsh, Cornish and Breton. I won’t go into any more details here, you can read more elsewhere.

3. It sounds like this

“Thank you” = “Go raibh maith ‘ad“

The recording above is a native Connemara speaker, thanks to Irish-Sayings.com recordings.

You should also definitely check out TG4 television and Radió na Gaeltachta.

4. The language is alive

There are small communities in the Gaeltacht where Irish is the dominant language. There are Gaeltachtaí, for example, in Connemara (Co. Galway), Co. Donegal and Co. Kerry. The language is taught to all school kids. It has a national TV station, and a dedicated radio station. You’ll see it on most of our road signs, and on our coins.

Roads signs in An Cheathrú Rua, Connemara. Copyright GaeltachtTravel.com.

But it’s far from the dominant language in Ireland
Don’t be under any illusions. The colonial English did all the right things for the survival of their language in Ireland, it seems, because it has permeated every part of Irish daily culture, including society’s mentality. English is the societal language of Ireland. If you walk into a shop just about anywhere, English is the assumed language of communication.

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5. Shh! There’s a quiet language revolution happening

The Irish language has been through some tough times. And its traditional reach is unfortunately shrinking by the year. For example, 40 years ago you could have only ordered a pint on the Aran Islands by pointing if you didn’t speak Irish. But now, even there, a substantial percentage of people don’t speak it daily.

However! The Internet age has really seen a new life to the language. It feels that some of the old stigma related to it has faded away. Its influence is also rising in urban areas – of note is Belfast’s Gaeltacht Quarter. I think its real strength is shaking its old stigma held by its own people, along with a strong international community of speakers and learners who are connected through the Internet. Check out a collection of Irish language videos on YouTube.