
Bhí seisiún ióga le Maria Coleman ó Chomhcheol chun tús séimh a chur le maidin Dé Sathairn sular scaip na rannpháirtithe ina dtrí ghrúpa. D’imigh scaifte beag go Drioglann Chroithlí áit ar bhlas siad neart den uisce beatha iontach atá ar fáil ansin – agus caithfidh go raibh sé go maith mar gur chaith siad neart airgid chun buidéil a thabhairt abhaile leo! Chuaigh dream eile suas Cnoc na Naomh agus Aodh Mac Gairbheá acu mar threoraí. Is iomaí scéal atá ag Aodh agus faoin am a raibh siad ina suí sa chaife ar ché Mhachaire Rabhartaigh bhí saibhreas béaloidis agus eolais faoi logainmneacha agus eile acu. Bá é go Gabhla, trasna na dtonnta le Sabba Den, a chuaigh an dream eile, fiche cúig acu san iomlán agus Eddie Joe Mhic Aoidh leo mar threoraí. Is duine de bhunadh an oileáin é Eddie agus arís saibhreas eolais, scéalaíochta agus staire aige le roinnt leis an ghrúpa. Lá galánta a bhí ann agus b’iontach na radhairc a bhí le feiceáil fud fad an oileáin.
Ar fhilleadh dóibh ar ais go Teach Jack – agus cuid eile lonnaithe thíos i dTeach Campbell mar go raibh Teach Jack líonta acu – rinne Frank agus Eileen Sweeney ceardlann a sholáthar dóibh ar damhsa ar an sean-nós ar bhain achan duine an-taitneamh as. I ndiaidh béile iontach i dTeach Jack an tráthnóna sin, tháinig ceathrar ó ‘An Crannóg’ isteach chun ceol a sheinm agus bhí cuid mhaith de na cuairteoirí breá ábalta uirlis a sheinm nó amhrán a chanadh fosta. Oíche áirneáil den scoth a bhí ann. An mhaidin dár gcionn sular scaip na rannpháirtithe go ceithre chúige na tíre bhí craic agus comhrá ann faoi na focail agus frásaí úra a d’fhoghlaim daoine agus faoi shaibhreas Ghaeilge Uladh!
A yoga session with Maria Coleman of Comhcheol set a peaceful tone to the day on Saturday morning before the group was split into three smaller groups. One headed off to the Crolly Distillery where everyone tried out all the fantastic whiskey options available there – and they certainly tasted delicious judging by the amount of money spent to bring bottles back home with them! Another crowd went up Cnoc na Naomh with the guide Aodh Mac Gairbheá. Aodh had loads of stories to tell, and by the time they were sitting down in the café to the left of Magheraroarty, folklore tales, history of the local placenames and much more had been discussed. It was across the waves to Gola island with Sabba Den that the third group went, which consisted of 25 people who had Eddie Joe Mhic Aoidh along with them as their guide. Native to the island, Eddie similarly had a wealth of knowledge, incredible stories and historical facts which he shared with the group. It was a beautiful day, and the views all over the island were incredible.
Everyone then returned to Teach Jack – although some were staying in Teach Campbell as Teach Jack was full to capacity – where they participated in a Sean Nós dancing workshop led by Frank and Eileen Sweeney, a workshop which the group thoroughly enjoyed. After a delicious meal in Teach Jack that evening, four musicians from ‘An Crannóg’ called in to provide some music, while many of the tumchónaí participants themselves were also happy to join in with their instruments or by singing a song. It really was a fantastic oíche áirneáil! The next morning before everyone headed back home, there was lots of craic and comhrá about the new words and phrases learnt during their stay in addition to the distinct beauty of Ulster Irish!