Turas Teanga - Cuairteanna / Locations

Clár 1 (Programme 1) - Inis Meáin

Named after the island on which it is located, Inis Meáin Knitwear is one of the outstanding Irish export stories - a sophisticated, export-led company that combines tradition, contemporary design and modern technology to produce some of the most attractive knitwear in the world.
Founded by Áine and Tarlach de Blácam in 1985, Inis Meáin Knitwear has gone from strength to strength and now exports its products throughout the world. The distinctive designs, based on the native fisherman's dress of the Aran islands, now include the use of luxury fibres such as alpaca, linen and silk.
Set against the distinctive tiny fields and rolling Atlantic waves, the purpose-built white stone factory is a hive of activity, with advanced technological machinery running 24 hours a day. A staff of just 21 people produces 400 hand-finished sweaters each week for export to international fashion centres such as New York, Tokyo, London, Paris and Milan.

www.inismeain.ie/
www.iol.ie/~island/inismeain.htm
www.visitaranislands.com/index.html

Clár 2 (Programme 2) - Ionad Cois Locha, Dunlewey, Co. Donegal

Situated at the foot of Mt. Errigal and on the shores of Dunlewey Lough, Ionad Cois Locha offers visitors a fascinating insight into life in this Irish speaking area. A heritage centre founded and run by local people, it provides opportunities to explore aspects of the tradition of this part of Donegal, including music and the Irish language.
Visitors can walk through a weaver’s cottage and see demonstrations of carding, spinning and the weaving of wool. Outdoors, there are boat trips on Dunlewey lake, pony trekking and a play area.

Clár 3 (Programme 3) - Galway Races

The Galway Races are the high point of the summer in the west of Ireland and are famous world wide. More than a race meet, the Races are a cultural and social extravaganza that besieges Galway city each year.
Immortalised in song and story, the races are held over a seven-day period at the end of July each year at Ballybrit, north east of Galway city. The Galway races have a long history, with records dating back to the middle of the ninteenth century, although local folklore tells of races taking place in various sites around the city for many years previous to this.
A two-day meeting held at Ballybrit in 1869 attracted 40,000 people to the racecourse, with a slightly smaller number turning up on the second day. Since then the races have become bigger and bigger, and nowadays they are viewed not only as a sports event, but as one of the major cultural festivals of the Irish summer. The Galway races attract not only those interested in matters equine, but a huge number of people who come for the craic, to meet friends old and new, and to sample Irish music, song and story-telling at its very best.

Clár 4 (Programme 4) - Corca Dhuibhne Gaeltacht

Corca Dhuibhne, as the Dingle Peninsula is historically called, takes its name from the Celtic goddess Duibhne. Renowned for its magnificent scenery, Corca Dhuibhne was the setting for films such as ‘Ryan’s Daughter’ and ‘Far and Away’. The Great Blasket Island, just off Slea Head, has produced several noted writers and the peninsula boasts the greatest concentration of archaeological sites in Ireland.
In the Gaeltacht outside Dingle, Irish is the everyday language. The stunning scenery here offers a perfect backdrop for many activities and sports. Football is played, and debated, with a passion and young players like Dara Ó Cinnéide continue a tradition that has made Foireann Peile na Gaeltachta unique.
Dara has had a great interest in football from an early age and has played with the Kerry team for over ten years now. When football allows, Dara enjoys hill-walking on Mount Brandon.

www.dingle-peninsula.ie/
www.kerrygems.ie/places/dinglepeninsula/

Clár 5 (Programme 5) - Tory Island

It takes just under an hour to reach Tory by ferry from the Donegal coast but getting off the boat there is like entering another world. The islanders have always seen themselves as different to the ‘Irish’ across the sea and remain proud of their unique history, mythology and folklore. Irish is their first language and, naturally, they have their own unique dialect.
The island is famous for its school of primitive painters, whose simple powerful depictions of their island and the seascapes around it have achieved international renown. Their work is described as 'primitive', not so much because of their style but because of the rough materials they used.
St Columkille founded a monastery here in the 7th century and the remains of a round tower can still be seen. A distinctive Tau (T-shaped) Cross stands above the harbour.
Bird-watchers are treated to puffins, fulmars and gannets and Tory is often visited by interesting migrant birds.

Clár 6 (Programme 6) - Gaeilscoileanna

Gaelscoil Bharra, in Cabra in Dublin city, is one of a network of Irish language schools that have been established throughout the country in recent decades. The schools are at both primary and second level and Irish is the language used during all activities, inside and outside the classrooms. At present there are 149 primary schools and 33 second-level schools with over 30,000 students in total.
Gaelscoileanna is a voluntary national organisation which was established in 1973 to to support the development of Irish language schools and to provide information, support and advice to parents who wish to establish Irish language schools. Gaelscoileanna liases with the Department of Education and Science on behalf of the schools and organises training courses for Boards of Management, teachers and parents.

www.gaelscoileanna.ie/default.asp

Clár 7 (Programme 7) - Kayaking, Inverin, Conamara

Inverin is a small coastal village at the entrance to Casla Bay, to the west of Galway city. It is also the base for Aer Arann’s daily flights to the Aran Islands and is home to the Irish language television station, TG4.
Its name comes from the Irish, Indreabhán, meaning 'the mouth of the river'.
Like many Gaeltacht villages Inverin has a summer school for those wishing to improve their spoken Irish. Many students travel to Inverin for a holiday and exposure to the Irish language, music, traditions and culture.
It is said that Saint Columkille landed at Inverin on his way from the Aran Islands and his name is linked with the early Christian church there. From here a scenic drive brings the traveller through what is known as Joyce Country, which stretches right across the heart of Conamara.

Clár 8 (Programme 8) - Belfast

Lá (Day) is a daily Irish language newspaper based in Belfast and distributed throughout Ireland. Its new offices were designed by the award-winning architectural practice of Mackel and Doherty.

Clár 9 (Programme 9) - Tourmakeady

Tourmakeady is a Gaeltacht area situated between Lough Mask and the Partry Mountains in south Mayo. In the early 1900s the Gaelic League founded an Irish summer school here. When the school closed in 1950, the premises became the base for Gaeltarra Knitwear. The pure water of the area is bottled by 'Fíor Uisce Thuar Mhic Éadaigh'.

www.tourmakeady.com/
www.fioruisce.com/

Clár 10 (Programme 10) - Oideas Gael

Oideas Gael is a unique Irish Language project in Glencolmcille, Co. Donegal that provides activity learning holidays, rich in the culture, art, environment and local traditions.
Thousands of people have enjoyed the varied language and cultural courses at Oideas Gael since it was established in 1984. Glencolmcille is also the site of a well-known Folk Village, founded as a result of notable community effort, and its magical landscape has inspired generations of artists, musicians and writers.

www.oideas-gael.com/

Clár 11 (Programme 11) - Bácús Uí Bhaoill, Fintown, Donegal

This well-known bakery, located in the Donegal Gaeltacht area of Fintown, has been supplying cakes and breads to all of Donegal for more years than they’d care to remember!

Clár 12 (Programme 12) - Brú Na Bóinne, Co. Meath

Brú na Bóinne - the dwelling place of the Boyne - describes an area between the towns of Slane and Drogheda. It is one of the world's most important archaeological landscapes, dominated by the spectacular prehistoric passage tombs of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth.
Built over 5000 years ago by Neolithic (New Stone Age) farmers, these passage tombs provide evidence of a highly-evolved society which, by the 4th millennium BC, had settled widely across much of Western Europe.
The international significance of Brú na Bóinne was formally recognised in 1993 when it was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

www.knowth.com/newgrange.htm
www.heritageireland.ie/en/HistoricSites/

Clár 13 (Programme 13) - Spiddal

Spiddal (An Spidéal) is on the coast road west of Galway city. Its fine sandy beach, stone church, traditional pubs and restaurants make it a favourite destination for many. The Spiddal Craft Village is an attractive complex of workshops set up by Údarás na Gaeltachta (The Gaeltacht Authority) and opened in 1985. A wide variety of craft items are produced in the village, including pottery, jewellery and musical instruments.

www.westireland.travel.ie/detail.asp?memberID=4677

Clár 14 (Programme 14) - Ring, Co. Waterford

Ring (An Rinn) is located on the western shores of Dungarvan Bay and is the smallest coastal Gaeltacht area in the country. To its north is a long sandy spit called An Coinigéar (Cunnigar) which hosts a huge variety of seabirds. Further out on the peninsula is the fishing village of Helvic and the nearby Ceann Heilbhic (Helvic Head).
Coláiste na Rinne, an Irish language college founded in 1909, attracts students at all levels and runs full-term (academic year) and summer courses in the Irish language. Crafts in the area include fine cut crystal at Criostal na Rinne and Irish Wildlife Mobiles. Ring is also home to Nemeton, one of the largest television production companies in Ireland.

www.dungarvantourism.com/index.cgi?art_id=18
www.waterfordtourism.org/gaeltacht.html

Clár 15 (Programme 15) - Luas, Dublin

Luas is the Irish word for speed and is also the name for the new light rail system for Dublin and its suburbs. The Luas tram system will use modern technology to provide a state of the art public transport system for the city. The first two lines open in 2004 and three other lines are planned.

www.luas.ie/home/

Clár 16 (Programme 16) - TG4, Baile na hAbhann, Conamara

TG4 is the national Irish language television channel and first started broadcasting in 1996. Almost 800,000 viewers tune into the channel each day. The daily Irish language programme schedule is its core service and this is supported by a wide range of material in other languages.
The channel provides programmes in Irish daily for children and young people, to provide them with an attractive and entertaining point of contact with Irish in a context that is totally different to their school experiences. It also broadcasts a range of public service programmes in English, including live coverage of Dáil Éireann, the national parliament.

As a publisher/broadcaster TG4 has stimulated the growth of independent productions and its programmes have won critical acclaim, numerous awards and commendations at national and international festivals.

www.tg4.ie

Clár 17 (Programme 17) - Oisín & Yuko Ó Conláin, Conamara

Oisín Ó Conláin and his wife Yuko live in Baile an tSagairt in Spiddal, Co. Galway. Oisín is from Baile and tSagairt and his wife Yuko is from Akita in the north of Japan. They met when he was teaching English in Japan. Yuko was also teaching English at the same time. They married in Spiddal in 1995.
Their four children were born in Ireland. Oisín and Yuko keep both cultures alive in the their house, speaking Irish and Japanese to the children.

Clár 18 (Programme 18) - Cúrsaí Gaeilge do Dhaoine Fásta, Kerry

Irish Language courses for adults are organised by Comharchumann Forbartha Chorca Dhuibhne (the Dingle Peninsula Development Co-operative) and provide an opportunity to learn about local archaeology and traditional singing, as well as the language. Its subsidiary, Coláistí Chorca Dhuibhne, runs Irish languages courses for students of primary and post-primary schools during the summer months.

www.corca-dhuibhne.com/eindex.html

Clár 19 (Programme 19) - University College, Cork

Situated in the city of Cork, UCC is one of Ireland’s oldest institutes of higher learning and was originally established as Queen’s College. The original site chosen for the University is believed to have a connection with the patron saint of Cork, St Finbarr, and the University’s motto is “Where Finbarr Taught, Let Munster Learn.”

www.corkcorp.ie/corkcity/index.html
www.cork-guide.ie/corkcity.htm
www.ucc.ie/index.shtml

Clár 20 (Programme 20) - Dáil Éireann

Dáil Éireann is one of the houses of Oireachtas (the Parliament), the other being the Seanad. Both houses of the Oireachtas are located in Leinster House, Kildare St., Dublin. Members of the Dáil are directly elected and the maximum life of the Dáil is 5 years, although the Taoiseach may, at any time, advise the President to dissolve the Dáil.
Leinster House was originally known as Kildare House, after James Fitzgerald, the Earl of Kildare, who commissioned it to be built between 1745-47, as he wanted a stately Georgian mansion to reflect his eminent position in Irish society. When he became the Duke of Leinster in 1776, the house was renamed Leinster House.

www.oasis.gov.ie/government_in_ireland/
www.irlgov.ie/oireachtas/tour/kildare.htm