Turas go hInis Oírr / Trip to Inis Oírr
Dé Céadaoin seo caite ar an gceathrú lá déag de Mheán Fomhair chuaigh rang Gaeilge na hArdteiste ar thuras laethúil go hInis Oírr, Árainn, amach ó chósta na Gaillimhe. Ba le fuinneamh ‘s sceitimíní a chuamar siar Bóthar Chois Fharraige ar an mbus agus radharc álainn na n-oileán romhainn amach. Thógamar an bád ó chéibh Ros a Mhíl ag leath uair taréis a deich agus bhaineamar an t-oileán amach roimh uair an mheánlae. Bhí an aimsir thar cionn ar fad agus chuir teas na géine go mór lenár gcompord. Bhíomar an- tógtha le háilleacht an oileáin. Chuamar ag rothaíocht, ag siúl agus ag snámh agus d’imríomar spórt le déagóirí Choláiste Ghobnait,an mheánscoil ar Inis Oírr. Ba dhrogallach a d’fhilleamar ar an mbád an trathnóna sin ach fanfaidh cuimhní an lae linn go deo. Is áit ar leith iad na hoileáin. Nach orainne atá an t-ádh go bhfuil a leithéid d’áilleachta ar leac an dorais againn anseo in iarthar na hÉireann. Tá bliain mór oibre amach romhainn leis an Ardteist ach fillfimid ar Árainn go luath arís le cúnamh Dé. Bhaineamar spraoi as cumarsáid ‘s comhluadar a chéile an lá sin. Tá sé deacair a chreidiúint ach níor bhacamar leis an bhfón beag ná mór an lá céanna. Thuigeamar luach na cumarsáide ar ár dturas. Thuigeamar go bhfuil draíochtag baint le hÁrainn agus le Gaeltacht Chonamara. Ba bheag Béarla a bhí le cloisteáil an lá sin. Rinneamar ar gcuid cainte trí Ghaeilge. D’insíomar scéalta trí Ghaeilge. Chasamar amhráin Gaeilge ar am mbus ‘s ar an mbád. Tuigimid anois níos soiléire luach agus saibhreas na Gaeilge. Mar a deir an seanfhocal……. ‘beatha teanga í a labhairt’. Bhíomar mar chuid beo de phobal na Gaeltachta an lá sin……..cuimhní cinn a fhanfaidh linn go deo!
On Wednesday last some of our LC students headed westward to visit the smallest of the Aran Islands, Inis Oírr. The trip was a chance to immerse ourselves in the language with ‘Riail na Gaeilge’ enforced as soon as we boarded the bus that morning! With the travel restrictions and lockdown rules of Covid now a distant memory, the excitement and sense of anticipation
heightened as the three islands of Aran came into view as our bus drove westward along the coast road outside of Barna. Tea and coffee was appreciated by all in Spiddal considering our alarm clocks had sounded earlier than usual that morning! As our boat left Ros a Mhíl the sun shone brightly over Galway Bay and the sun cream was passed around in anticipation of the good forecast promised! The journey lasted little over an hour and we arrived in Inis Oírr shortly before midday. Some of us hired bikes while others opted tomexplore the island on foot. The elevated site of O’Briens castle affords breathtaking views of the island. The rusted shipwreck of the ‘Plassey’ is another must see attraction as well as the lighthouse and the sunken church ‘Teampall Chaomháin’ dating back to the 10 th century. The braver souls amongst us took a swim in the crystal clear waters of the sea and our own Scott came to the rescue of an injured tourist resulting in a last minute dash back to the pier for the departingmboat! For those brief few hours we forgot about our studies and the Leaving Cert! The joy and happiness of
friendship was evident returning on the ferry to Ros a Mhíl as our more exuberant students jived and danced the ‘macarena’ much to the amusement and entertainment of the other passengers on board! The quiet and slower pace of life is evident everywhere on Inis Oírr. The island afforded us space and time to think as we embark on our final year in PCH. The next twelve months will bring change for us all. A whole new world beckons beyond the LC when we all will set out on our own personal journeys in life. Memories of this day will remain with us forever. Together as friends, as classmates, as students of PCH. We laughed, joked and chatted ‘trí Ghaeilge’. We visited somewhere special last Wednesday. A day that will remain etched in our memories long after we have folded away the grey jumper of PCH for the last time! Inis Óirr, ó Inis Oírr…….. feicfimid arís thú!
Míle Buiochas to Mr Gilmore and Ms Boyle for making this magical day happen.
Leaving Certs Jiving on the Atlantic- well worth a view!!!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FcpTKxgrJAJjElQgxew1Fouud4JcHAJu/view?usp=sharing
