Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Mike Jones, a regular singer at the 7 Stars and<br />
other clubs in the Exeter area, describes a recent<br />
visit to a folk centre in Donegal.<br />
Anyone interested in nding a way into the Irish<br />
Gaelic language in a social setting, backed up by<br />
workshops in singing, set dancing, playing ddle,<br />
bodhran or whistle, hillwalking and heritage<br />
could well benet from attending a week at the<br />
Glencolmcille <strong>Folk</strong> Heritage Centre. The centre,<br />
funded by charity, is situated in the village of<br />
the same name (named after a local saint) in the<br />
south-west corner of Donegal, in a predominantly<br />
Gaelic speaking part of Eire.<br />
The language classes ran for three hours each<br />
weekday and two hours on the Sunday afternoon,<br />
and it was possible to change the level of language<br />
class or workshop subject at any time. Concerts<br />
were provided nightly, featuring top musicians<br />
and singers, but the three local pubs also offered<br />
musical evenings from locals and visitors, often<br />
continuing until the early hours in friendly and<br />
hospitable company.<br />
The teachers were charismatic, efcient and<br />
talented, with good humour and charm. The 130<br />
people who attended (24th - 31st July in 2010)<br />
were drawn from all parts of Ireland, North<br />
America, the U.K. and France. Accommodation<br />
was outside the centre. Two stores provided for<br />
self-caterers and three cafes were available for<br />
meals throughout the day. A stunning beach,<br />
rugged coastline and mountains, friendly locals,<br />
and a nearby folk village and museum were<br />
added bonuses.<br />
The Heritage Centre wasn’t an easy place to<br />
get to, however. My journey involved a ight<br />
from Exeter to Belfast, then a three-stage bus<br />
ordeal taking about six hours, including waiting<br />
time. It wasn’t helped by the non-arrival of an<br />
expected bus at Donegal Town’s Abbey Hotel,<br />
due to ‘crossed wires and an administrative error,<br />
necessitating a rather expensive taxi journey<br />
to my nal destination. Fortunately, the return<br />
journey by road was much easier due to the<br />
generous offer of a lift. Apart from walking, one<br />
also had to rely on lifts to get around and across<br />
the village.<br />
Contact details: Oideas Gael, Gleann Cholm<br />
Cille, Co. Dhun na Ghal, Eire. 00353 7497<br />
30248 oideasgael@eircom.net<br />
Did you recognise<br />
the person in the<br />
cover photo It’s a<br />
very much younger<br />
Martyn Babb, subject<br />
of this edition’s Local<br />
Treasure. Below is an<br />
even hairier version<br />
of him in his days as a<br />
DJ on radio.<br />
12
Change language