Is iomaí Gael fá Ard Mhacha atá tuirseach an tseachtain seo i ndiaidh dóibh pilleadh ó thuras gnóthach lánimeachtaí ar Ghaeltacht ghrianmhar Dhún na nGall. Bhí siúlóid bhreá i nDún Lúiche á stiúradh ag Seán Ó Dónaill, fear de bhunadh na háite a bhfuil an-taithí aige mar throeraí. Níor ghéill muintir Ard Mhacha roimh dhúshlán riamh agus thug scaifte mór cróga aghaidh ar an Earagail in ainneoin an teasa. Ní raibh oiread agus scamall sa spéir agus bhain an dá ghrúpa de 30 Gael barr na hEaragaile amach, áit a raibh radharc acu ar chontae Dhún na nGall uilig. Is mór an sásamh a fuair achan duine ón éacht sin a dhéanamh agus bhí siamsaíocht na hoíche go mór tuillte acu. Chuaigh an dream uilig a fhad le Teach Hiúdaí Bheag le freastal ar an Chabaret Craiceáilte, oíche iomráiteach ceoil a bhíonn á reáchtáil ag Rónán Mac Aodha Bhuí gach mí. Ar na ceoltóirí a bhí i láthair, bhí Conor Keane, Aoife Scott, Blunderbrau agus Clann Mhic Ruairí as Rann na Feirste, Seosamh Ó Neachtáin agus an sárghrúpa Moxie. An lá dar gcionn, chaith muid 3 uair a chloig ag súil thart ar an Bhun Bheag le foghlaim faoi stair an cheantair. Ba é Dónall Ó Cnaimhsí, garraíodóir Pháirc Náisiúnta Ghleann Bheithe, a stiúir an tsiúlóid seo agus chuaigh muid ó sheanteach an phobail tríd an Choiteann, go Machaire Gathlán agus ar ais frí Mhachaire Clochair. Chuir muid deireadh leis an turas le cuairt bheag ghairid chuig Páirc Náisiúnta Ghleann Bheithe ar an bhealach abhaile. Bhain achan duine idir sult agus sásamh as an turas seo ar Ghaoth Dobhair na gréine agus cé go bhfuil na cosa ag ligint a scíthe, ní fada go mbeidh an grúpa Siúil ag dul amach arís ar an Satharn deireanach de mhí an Mheithimh, an 30ú, le siúlóid a dhéanamh idir Bhaile Uí Chornáin agus Ard Ghlais.
There are plenty of Gaels in Armagh who are recovering this week from a busy action-packed weekend visit to the sunny Donegal Gaeltacht. One group took part in a walk through Dunlewey under the guidance of local man Seán Ó Dónaill. Armagh people are made of stern stuff and never refused a challenge, so a brave crowd set out to climb the Errigal in spite of the day’s heat. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the crowd of 30 Gaels braved the gusts of winds to reach the summit where they enjoyed beautiful views of the entire county of Donegal. Everyone felt very proud of this achievement and they certainly deserved a great night’s entertainment. The group paid a visit to Teach Hiúdaí Bheag to experience the Cabaret Craiceáilte, the renowned music extravaganza which is organised monthly by radio personality Rónán Mac Aodha Bhuí. Among the musicians present on Saturday night were Conor Keane, Aoife Scott, Blunderbrau and the Mac Ruairí clan from Rann na Feirste, Seosamh Ó Neachtáin and the fantastic traditional group Moxie. The following day, we spent 3 hours exploring the Bun Beag area, learning about the history of the area. Dónall Ó Cnaimhsí, gardener in the Glenveagh National Park was the guide and we left the old chapel making our way through the townlands of An Choiteann, Machaire Gathlán and around the beaches of Mhachaire Clochair. The trip was rounded off with a short visit to Glenveagh National Park on the way home. Everyone enjoyed the visit to sunny Gaoth Dobhair and although the feet are up as they recover from their exertions, it won’t be long before the walking group Siúil will be back out on the last Saturday of June, 30th, for their next walk between Ballyhornan and Ardglass.
