Four weeks of immersion in Irish language, and music. Wow! Educational, thought-provoking and totally exhaustive, my time in Gleann Cholm Cille was an amazing experience. It is difficult to explain in full how valuable and trans formative language immersion can be. After the three weeks, I feel like I have a handle on the language and I think with regular practice and use, I could become an Irish speaker, but there is so much more I have gleaned from the experience.

At the moment I am reading an excellent book by Lillis O'Laoire called On a Rock in the Middle of the Ocean. One of the things the author talks book the author talks about in the book in the chapter on the practice and theory of ethnography is the role of mimesis plays in the constructing of new works of art. O'Laoire draws an interesting comparison between Aristotle who holds that all works of art are new creations pieced together by a process called poiesis in which mimesis is at work in providing the signs, rules and norms of creation, and Plato's theory which was that all works of art are week recreations of an original. Experiences like language immersion provide an excellent source of mimesis, or inspiration, for my own examination and creation of culture and self.

In his study of the musical traditions of the Tory Islanders of Ireland he examines the possibility of metaphor as creation in miniature. The metaphors in the Irish Language and tradition are elegant and plentiful. If O'Laoire's view is true than I have just been exposed to a very high level of creative juice! The ways of expressing feelings and relations in the Irish Language differ greatly from English where ownership takes precedence over shared experiences. For instance something amazing in Irish can be expressed as such: ta se thar ceann liom, which translates to something like that is all around my head. In English a thing often acquires a label when a person describes it: that IS great. In Irish it is the experience of the thing is used to describe.

Many great friendships were forged at Gleann Cholm Cille. The people who were coming from all over the world made a big impression on me and listening to their accents was great fun. There were people from Russia, Italy, Wales, France, Brittany and Spain. The language obviously has an attraction which is not limited to those with an Irish background. Irish language, music and dancing are definitely healthy activities I will continue to pursue, and I have decided to give Irish sean-nos singing a try in the near future.



I left Ireland last weekend, and I am now in the Northern Irish county of Fermanagh, or fir Manach (meaning men of Manach). I am on a beautiful organic farm with a lovely family where I feel right at home. The volunteer work in the garden is engaging and relaxing. I enjoy a little creative landscaping each day and I have been learning a little about aesthetics and permaculutre as well. The family all come from county Down, Dun, who have just beaten Kildare in the semi-finals of the all Ireland Football League. Hugh McCann is a nice hardworking fellow who works for the civil service, and Teresa is a very positive and friendly person with a great sense of humor. They have two children who just started school again this week. Finbar, the youngest, is twelve, and has a head like an encyclopedia. Maeve is a few years older and takes her Irish Music very seriously. At the moment there is one other volunteer here from South Africa. Her name is Julia and we get on quite well. It is fascinating to hear her decribe the lifestyle at home. Here is a picture of her next to a lotus flower in the garden.