Discovery Days; Celtic Nights

Lawless exploring the beach and sea life in Glencolmcille.

Glencolmcille, Co. Donegal -- From the moment the suns breaks through the ocean fog and sets light on the valley, adventure is waiting to be seized in the Glen.  Sandy beaches framed by rocky shores are teeming with sea life and a diverse biological display of Ireland's finest natural wonders.  For a curious mind and a daring soul, the opportunities to explore are endless. With classes starting at 10 a.m., students at Oideas Gael have plenty of time to hit the trails for a walk through the hills or comb the beautiful beaches all before class.  But the courses themselves are intense.  A true immersion experience, very little English is spoken to push the students to not only speak Irish but begin to think in Irish. Classes run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (with a break from 1 to 3 p.m.), focusing only on the Irish language and culture.  

Traditional music in the pub by three of Donegal's finest fiddlers.

To work on only one subject for hours is a task that can be a bit daunting, but there is plenty of fun to be had throughout.  The school, being the epicenter of the town's social life, sets up plenty of events and activities to educate in an engaging and dynamic environment.  Students are encouraged to attend events nightly that range from poetry readings, to traditional Irish dances called ceilidh (pronounced kaylee).  Every evening, music sessions of fiddle, guitar, accordion, and flute played by local musicians can be heard into the wee hours of the night at the pub.  Most Americans associate the word 'pub' with strictly alcohol, but a pub is the abbreviated term for public house. Although Ireland's own legendary ale, Guinness--as well as plenty of other spirits--flow from the taps throughout the day in a pub, the actual idea of a pub is much more of a social place, where drunkenness is more cliche than common.  It's a gathering point for all ages, and often in Ireland it's normal to see folks from newborns to ninety enjoying a bit of "crack" in the pub.  You heard me; crack.  As our own cadet, Travis Connolly, put it, "crack to us in the states means jail time, but in Ireland it means a good time."  

The cadets themselves are taking it all in and are merging into the community well, but at first the remoteness, the awkwardness, the simple distance from home, combined with different cultures and habits made the transition to remote Ireland a bit tough.  Glencombcille is not your average Irish town. It's located on a finger on the west coast of the island that stretches out deep into the Atlantic. To get to Glen, you have very limited options so people coming in and out are few and far between, and that's what's kept it so closely linked to the Ireland of the past.  

Lawless (second left) and his level 1 class.

"It's been my first time out of America, and I have to admit, I was homesick at first... but the view, this place, is just so breath-taking; being able to go out on the beach, to go up into the mountains, seeing a place that's so safe that even rabbits can stay out in the open all day, it's been so nice," says Cadet Gordon Lawless.  "As for the language, I've picked up exponentially more than I ever expected.  The immersion experience is certainly great itself, as well." 

Connolly (right) & two international students.

Although stepping out of one's comfort zone is certainly the mission for this trip, the ultimate objective is for cadets to learn Gaelic and attain a skill very few can claim. To do so, focus is required. "It's definitely difficult to learn, but it's fun when you have a good teacher and great friends in the class," said Cadet Travis Connolly.  "It's very unique.  Usually, I'm studying four or five subjects at one time, but here I get to focus strictly on the Irish language and put forth more effort into that instead of dividing my time, which helps me learn faster." 

It's impossible to have just one focus and love while in Ireland however.  Everything from culture to ceol (music) factors in as part of the Irish language experience.  "The scenery, weather, the place's atmosphere, people you meet, studying, exploring the mountains, hanging out with friends at the beach" make the experience so much more dynamic than a typical educational environment, said Connolly.  "Once you get in, the people are more friendly and more open; maybe it's because of the isolated environment."  Whether it's the remote nature of the place or just a bit of the Celtic lore waring off on the cadets, it's certain that Ireland in making an impression that will never be forgotten by these young students.  

Connolly and his level 2 class performing a skit in Gaelic at the end of their second week.