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TripsWithKevin Flashback: 10 years ago today.
July 4, 2018
Today I began the day with a trip to Siopa Mhicí to get some milk for breakfast. Bleary-eyed and without my morning tea or coffee I gathered my items and approached the checkout. I was served totally though Irish again and was engaged in more small talk than I was expecting. This has been the most Irish I have been able to use on any of our trips so far! After breakfast we headed to Dún Lúiche.
We started our day at the Old Dunlewey Church which was beautiful in the sun. This church dates to 1852 and was built from locally quarried blue marble and white quartzite with locally produced red brick in the arches of the windows. The marble and quartzite quarries are now depleted, but we are left with this beautiful and photogenic church building. We all did a lot of exploring and we stayed until everyone was ready to leave. It was a less rushed visit than last time and I think everyone enjoyed this visit more as a result.
Old Dunlewey Church, Dún Lúiche
The tower of the Old Dunlewey Church
The inside of the Old Dunlewey Church tower
The stairs to the tower of the Old Dunlewey Church
Mount Errigal seen through a window at the Old Dunlewey Church
The interior of the Old Dunlewey Church
The tower of the Old Dunlewey Church
The arches of the Old Dunlewey Church
Next we continued down the road to the trail head for the Poisoned Glen. It was 24° today and the glen was beautiful. We had a nice walk and went way farther into the glen than we were able to go before, but we turned around when Fionnuala (6) said that she was getting hot. I really look forward to making to into the glen far enough that the mountains are all round us.
The Old Dunlewey Church with Mount Errigal as seen from the trail head for the Poisoned Glen
The trail head for the Poisoned Glen
The trail through the Poisoned Glen
Mount Errigal from the Poisoned Glen
The classic shot of the Poisoned Glen
The bridge where our last visit ended
Investigating the stream under the bridge
Underneath the bridge
the TripsWithKevin family turns back here
Once we had completed the walk back to the car we made the short drive around the lake to the Ionad Cois Locha. We had originally hoped to do pony rides at the stable next to the Ionad but unfortunately they are now out of business. It was noon when we arrived in the car park. We unloaded and entered the centre planning on eating in the restuarant inside. I bought a family ticket for the play area through Irish and in we went.
Errigal and the donkeys at the Ionad Cois Locha, Dún Lúiche
coinín (a rabbit)
Checking out the animals
The children played for about an hour on the large playground and then we went into the Bialann (restaurant) where the children and I ordered in Irish. After we finished our large and delicious lunch, which allowed us to cool off a bit, we went back outside
Paddle boats at the Ionad Cois Locha, Dún Lúiche
The children renamed them “Bumper Boats”
Bumper cars at the Ionad Cois Locha, Dún Lúiche
Liam (9) twice purchased tickets as Gaeilge and we rode the Paddle Boats, the children rode in the Bumper Cars and then played in the play area some more. They also enjoyed looking at the animals on our way out.
We finished our day in the siopa (shop) where Fionnuala picked out a few books in Irish and each child selected a small toy (served again in Irish). By this time it was 3 PM and everyone was hot and tired. We spent the rest of the evening relaxing at the house before dinner. What a great day and what of lot of Irish! This is exactly why we come to the Gaeltacht!
Sunset in Bunbeg
Liam’s Highlight of the Day: Bumper Boats (this is not the official name but what we did)
Fionnuala’s Highlight of the Day: Bumper Cars
Gaeilge Experience:
I began the day bleary-eyed in the Siopa Mhicí chattering away in Irish. My brain wasn’t awake but it was wonderful. Siopa Mhicí has been the perfect Gaeltacht shop with Irish everywhere during our visit. From there, Ionad Cois Locha was a great place for the Irish as well. The woman in the shop greeted me in English, but only spoke Irish to us the rest of the day after I spoke to her in Irish. In the restaurant, the girl who served us was not bothered at all to speak Irish with us but clearly didn’t use it regularly (not all of the staff appeared as comfortable with Irish as her) as she would sometimes confirm the item in English. At the ticket shed, the girl effortlessly served the children in Irish. Gaoth Dobhair has lived up to it’s reputation as a Fior Gaeltacht on this trip.
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