Tag Archives: Gaeilge

Deora Dé

Siar agus Aniar 12 Deora Dé is the Irish name for the fuchsia. This plant was introduced into Ireland as a hedging material and now has naturalized. It is considered an invasive non-native species. It outcompetes native plants in hedgerows. These hedges are significant habitat in Ireland because of the loss of most of itsContinue reading “Deora Dé”

Loch na Naomh

Siar agus Aniar 11 I went walking to Loch na Naomh – the Lake of the Saint. It is always windy there. The lake is on top of a granite hill between An Cheathrú Rua and Galway Bay in Conamara. Few trees, many bogs, low heather and gorse, wonderful wildflowers and orchids. The bedrock isContinue reading “Loch na Naomh”

Names have meaning – Logainmneacha

Siar agus Aniar 10 In Canada, we know that language has politics built into it. The suppression of minoritized languages is an overtly political act. It is a situation that has been going on for millenia in Ireland. Some people try to keep language and politics separate. Is this really possible? I recently spent aContinue reading “Names have meaning – Logainmneacha”

Meitifhoghlaim Learning another langage An article about meta-learning

Siar agus Aniar 8 One of my the primary goals, indeed of the Siar agus Aniar Ambassador exchange between Ireland and Nova Scotia, is to improve my fluency in the Irish language. Other goals include making real and personal contact with people and institutions working to make their communities thrive and getting to know aboutContinue reading “Meitifhoghlaim Learning another langage An article about meta-learning”

Fuck Gaeilge!

Siar agus Aniar 7 One of the goals of Siar agus Aniar | Siar agus an Ear | East and West Ambassadors’ Exchange: Ireland-Maritime North America Language and Cultural Pilot Program is to live life in a Gaeltacht. Gaeltachtaí are those regions in Ireland where Irish is the daily language of the community. What isContinue reading “Fuck Gaeilge!”

Joe Éinniú Festival of Traditional Singing

Siar agus Aniar 6 The Féile Joe Éinniú (Joe Heaney) Festival of Traditional Singing is a celebration of the life and work of Joe Éinniú. He was a sean-nós singer and a great exponent of the preservation of this traditional Irish form of singing. The drive to Carna, home of the festival, takes one throughContinue reading “Joe Éinniú Festival of Traditional Singing”

Man, I think I am in love… with Ireland!

Falling deeper in love with Irish culture and musings on linguistic insecurity.

Wandering in Ceathrú Rua, Conamara – Bóithríní, ballaí agus bláthanna

Siar agus Aniar 3 I am staying in Ceathrú Rua, Conamara, Ireland. There are many small, narrow lanes with rock walls on either side. The Irish term in Bóithrín. The walls have many plants growing on them too: ivy-leafed toadflax, polypody fern, ivy, herb-robert, shining crane’s-bill, red valerian, and hart’s tongue. I find it captivatingContinue reading “Wandering in Ceathrú Rua, Conamara – Bóithríní, ballaí agus bláthanna”

Siar agus Aniar 2

An áit a bhfuil do chroí, is ann a thabharfas do chosa thú. Your feet will bring you to where your heart lies. In less than a week’s time, I will be in Ireland to start my experience as ambassador with Siar agus Aniar | Siar agus an Ear | East and West-Ambassadors’ Exchange: An Ireland-MaritimeContinue reading “Siar agus Aniar 2”