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An Irish Studies student's adventures in An Ghaeltacht: Part Two

By
JOANNA KELLY,

Published Friday, July 17, 2009, 11:55 AM
Updated Thursday, July 23, 2009, 5:13 PM

 

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Scenic Connemara, County Galway, Ireland
Scenic Connemara, County Galway, Ireland, part of An Ghaeltacht

Our second week in the west Connemara Gaeltacht of An Cheathrú Rua (Carraroe) has been a busy one, punctuated with two turas (field trips) and lots-o-vocabulary as Gaeilge. 

The highlight of the week was a field trip to the Aran Islands off the coast of Co. Galway, which gained popularity after Robert J. Flaherty’s 1935 documentary “Man of Aran,” which depicted the traditional ways of life on the islands. I was fortunate enough to be placed in the group that traveled to Inis Meáin, the smallest and least visited of the three islands. 

To step foot on Inis Meáin is to step back about 100 years in time. W.B. Yeats once advised John Millington Synge, “Go to the Aran Islands and find a life that has never been expressed in literature.” These words are still true in 2008, as Inis Meáin is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, but had never heard about until my ferry arrived there.   The first thing you’ll notice when you step off the ferry is the endless backdrop of winding limestone walls and scattered cottages from coast to coast. The second thing you’ll notice is that everyone around you is speaking as Gaeilge. 

The level of cultural preservation on Inis Meáin unbelieavable: the Irish language is far more than just a gimmick for tourists, here it is the everyday language of communication and commerce; the land is refreshingly underdeveloped with only about 50 houses on the island and a narrow winding road that is used for cars, biking, walking, and the moving of the cattle. Yes, the moving of the cattle. This was one of those ‘culture shock’ moments they warned us about…

On our way to the Inis Meáin Knitting factory, a tractor pulled up behind us with a dog barking and running in front of us-a seemingly quaint countryside scenario.   However, as the tractor trudged alongside of us the driver, toothless and clad in a scally cap, screamed something to us as Gaeilge and brandished what I could only imagine was a shilelagh. Before I could politely scream “Tá brónom, Ní thuigim”[ I’m sorry, I don’t understand] above the noise of the tractor, six full grown (and stressed out) cows charged down the road. We took refuge on one of the stone walls, as our tour guide stayed on the road unfazed and laughing. This near death experience occurred twice throughout the day.

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