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| "Are you learning Irish?" Trying to! Last weekend my beginner's Irish class went to practice and learn in An Cheathrú Rua, a tiny town in the Gaeltacht, the western Irish-speaking region. Though everyone knows English, Irish is the first language and the one spoken on a daily basis (unless you have American visitors who don't understand!) |
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| Classmates Erin, Hannah, and Annie |
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| Along with about a dozen other girls, I stayed in the home of a woman named Cátriona and her husband, the rooms of which they rent out as a B&B to visitors. They were wonderful hosts, and their house was cozy and beautiful - this is the morning view from their backyard. |
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| Our host family's donkey. His name is Fluffy. |
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| Fluffy likes carrots! |
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| Our host family's house, which the husband built himself - when I asked him what he did for a living he said "I am a builder"; then he stopped, looked thoughtful, and revised, "I am a jack of all trades" |
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| Lunchtime concert - séan nos singing and dancing |
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| Despite this sign places in this town don't really need names - "The Restuarant" is next to "The Pub," which is just down the road from "The Pharmacy" and "The Church" |
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| An Cheathrú Rua is located on a peninsula, surrounded by the Irish Sea |
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| Some Irish singing and dancing to end the evening |
