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Which Gaelteacht for adults?

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  • 07-01-2017 8:38pm
    #1
    Loveinapril
    Registered Users Posts: 2,337 ✭✭✭


    Myself and my husband would love to have a weekend away in one of the gaelteacht areas in Ireland in Spring. We both have basic Irish but are in the process of improving, and love the idea of being immersed in the language. We would be travelling from Dublin. We would like to be able to meet other people but don't necessarily want to do a course. Can anyone recommend anywhere for us?


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    #2
    feargale
    Registered Users Posts: 8,636 ✭✭✭feargale


    I haven't been travelling much around Ireland in recent years but twenty years ago I did, and I think I got to every Gaeltacht in the country in my travels.
    The people of the Dingle peninsula were among the nicest I met in Ireland.
    Dingle itself - a charming little town with a good hotel, some nice restaurants and bars and a nice little bookshop.
    And in those days you would occasionally hear Irish spoken in the town.
    For me Dingle is number one.
    But my information is 20 years old. I imagine Irish has weakened in every Gaeltacht in the meantime.

    I also enjoyed a few good days and nights in Ring, and Dungarvan nearby, while not Gaeltacht, is a very nice town with good facilities.

    For me the best of Galway is the Aran Islands. True, Inishmore is now quite commercialised, but the other two islands are not so much, and the language is strongest in Inishmaan. And I liked the people there. Inisheer has the most gorgeous beach.

    If you ever happen to be passing Galway City there are a few watering holes frequented by Connemara people and if you're lucky you will hear quite a bit of Irish in them.

    But your first consideration must be the question of which dialect you are into. It's all well to tune into standard Irish on radio and tv, but you haven't much business going to Munster if Donegal Irish is your thing, or vice-versa. Incidentally my knowledge of Donegal is limited.

    Also, in the high season, while the beaches are inviting, when the tourists are around the locals have a tendency to switch to English.

    That's my tuppence worth, albeit mostly out of date. Others may have a different view.


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