Culture, Heritage & Irish Language on The Dingle Peninsula

Oidhreacht, Cultúr agus Gaeilge ar Leithinis Chorca Dhuibhne

THE IRISH LANGUAGE
   MUSIC & DANCE    BLASKET ISLANDS
   HUNTING THE WREN    FISHING   
   DÍSEART INSTITUTE    CULTURAL HOLIDAYS   
   DUNBEG FORT    MUSEUM   
BOOKSHOP

The Dingle Peninsula / Corca Dhuibhne ia a unique storehouse of Irish cultural heritage. Until recently, the peninsula was remote from the influences of the modern world, and this meant that the language and traditions of the area have survived intact to a greater degree than in most of Ireland.

Language

Much of the peninsula of Corca Dhuibhne is a Gaeltacht or an area where the Irish language (Gaeilge or Gaelainn) is widely spoken in the home, workplace or school.

caintsign (124K)

In the early summer, many school students from other parts of Ireland stay for three week-long Colaistí Samhraidh or Summer Language Colleges, staying in the homes of local people and participating in a rich programme of events.


Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne,
an Irish Language Cultural organisation, based in Ballyferriter
caters for adult learners, providing Irish language courses, heritage and activity courses and classes for all levels throughout the year. See www.oidhreacht.ie for details.

A number of courses for adults (daoine fásta) to learn, improve or use Irish take place throughout the year. Contact Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne at eolas@cfcd.ie.

Corca Dhuibhne ag Caint

Togra is ea Corca Dhuibhne ag Caint le húsáid na Gaelainne a chur chun cinn i measc gnólachtaí an Daingin. Tá Údarás na Gaeltachta i gcomhar le hOidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne taobh thiar den togra. Cuireadh tús leis an dtogra i mí Bealtaine 2009. Tá 20 gnólacht cláraithe leis an togra fé láthair, gnólachtaí atá sásta freastal ar chustaiméirí ina rogha teanga.

Corca Dhuibhne ag Caint is a project aimed at promoting the use of Irish in business in Dingle. Údarás na Gaeltachta in association with Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne are the promoters of the project. The project started in May 2009. There are 20 businesses registered with us, who are willing to serve people in the language of their choice.

Breis Eolais/More Information
RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta

RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta was established in 1972 as a radio station to serve the Gaeltacht community and for Irish speakers nationwide. It now broadcasts Irish language programmes 24 hours a day from studios in the different Gaeltachtaí of Ireland.

An Saol ó Dheas is a programme dedicated mainly to Corca Dhuibhne as well as the rest of the Munster Gaeltachtaí. It is broadcast daily from Monday to Friday just after the news and local news at 12.00 midday. It is also possible to llisten to the programme at any time via the RTÉ website.

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Traditional Music and Dance

 

Both instrumental music and song have a long tradition on the Dingle Peninsula. In recent times, with the increasing international interest in Irish traditional music, the area has become a mecca for traditional music lovers to the extent that many roving musicians have come to settle in the area and have blended their talents with those of the local native musicians.

There are numerous opportunities for the visitor to view traditional music and dancing in both formal and informal performances, or to attend classes. More details on musical traditions of Corca Dhuibhne can be found here.

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The Blasket Islands / Na Blascaodaí

The Blaskets, situated off the western end of the peninsula, near Dún Chaoin, have a remarkable literary heritage, with the works of Tomás Ó Criomhthain and Peig Sayers, chronicling their life on the Great Blasket, regarded as classics.

The BlasketIslands: A History
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Hunting the Wren

The Dingle area is a stronghold of the ancient tradition of "hunting the wren", which takes place on St Stephen's Day, December 26th. Groups of wrenboys (who can be of either gender) dressed in straw suits or disguised in fancy dress, parade through Dingle town and adjacent villlages to the accompaniment of musicians and a hobby horse.

More details on the wren tradition can be read here.

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Archaeology

The Dingle Peninsula is rich in archaeological sites: impressive Bronze Age standing stones, Iron Age promontory forts and early Christian monastic sites lie side by side with medieval ring forts and seventeenth century towerhouses.

The visitor will come across these monuments as they make their way around Corca Dhuibhne on foot or by car or bicycle. Guided tours of the area's sites are available, and the history of the area can be explored at local museums.

The Dingle Peninsula: 6,000 Years of History

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Fishing

Visitors to Dingle Town and surrounding coastal villages will be in no doubt that these are fishing communities. Although the fishing industry has seen much change and decline in recent years, it has left an imprint on the area.

The History of Fishing on the Dingle Peninsula

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Díseart Institute of Education and Celtic Culture

Díseart Institute of Education and Celtic Culture was founded in 1996 in the heart of Corca Dhuibhne - the Dingle Peninsula Gaeltacht (Irish speaking) and strives to promote research, courses and cultural activities in all areas of native and Celtic Culture including language, literature, art, laws, folklore, values, spirituality, history, music, archaeology and customs.

Díseart Institute

Díseart is one of the first community initiatives for third-level accredited courses in the Gaeltacht and it is currently the only institution in Ireland offering such a selection of courses to students while at the same time focusing on developing and strengthening the Irish language, the culture and the traditions of the Gaeltacht region. Currently Díseart offers a range of third-level courses to visitors and locals alike, including weekend and weekly classes to Certificate and Diploma level. All of the courses welcome students from Ireland and around the world to explore the breathtaking scenery and experience the rich and vibrant traditions of this Gaeltacht area of West Kerry, with field trips and visits to the Blasket Islands and Skellig Michil an integral part of the variety of programmes on offer.

phone:
+353 (0)66 915 2476
e-mail:
info@diseart.ie
website:
www.diseart.ie

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Gaeilge Beo
Irish Cultural Activity Holidays

Saoire Gníomach Cultúrtha
Tigh TP
Baile na nGall
Trá Lí, Co. Chiarraí
Fón : 087 246 0507

Gaeilge Beo offers activity holidays for groups of adult students, universities, companies, social clubs and other organisations who would like the opportunity to learn and improve their spoken Irish in an informal fun setting or for those who have no Irish to experience the Irish language culture.

Activities include:
  • Local Archeological Tours
  • Irish Dancing & Old Songs
  • Hill Walking
  • Water Activities
  • Painting & Art
  • Pottery Classes
  • Irish Music Sessions
  • Sports
  • Angling
  • Seabirds & Marine Life Tours
  • Golf
  • Bird Watching
  • Horse Riding
e-mail:
info@gaeilgebeo.com
website:
www.gaeilgebeo.com
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The Dunbeg Promontory Fort and Visitor Centre

Fahan, Slea Head Drive
Tel: +353 66 9159970

The location of An Dún Beag, or Dunbeag Promontory Fort, makes it one of the most dramatic archaeological sites on the peninsula. It has been excavated and results show that it was begun in the late Bronze Age, 800 BC, and was used right through the Celtic period up to the 10th century. Even the excavation results did not reveal conclusively what the site was used for; it may have been defensive, or used for ritual purposes, or it may simply have just been lived in. This small but impressive fort is located on a sheer cliff promontory which projects South into Dingle Bay at the base of Mt. Eagle.

At the Dunbeg Fort Visitor Centre food is available all day: teas, coffees. sandwiches, soups etc.

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Corca Dhuibhne Regional Museum
Músaem Chorca Dhuibhne



Welcome to Músaem Chorca Dhuibhne, where archaeology and history are brought to life.

Open 7 days a week, 10:00am-5:00pm, June to September and at Easter.
Open by request during winter months.

Tel: 00353 66 915 63 33
or 00353 66 915 61 00,
Fax: 00353 66 915 63 48.

The museum is in the old schoolhouse in Baile an Fheirtéaraigh (Ballyferriter), 13km (8 miles) west of Dingle (just across the road from the Catholic Church). We also have a café with freshly baked scones and other treats available each day, and also a book shop which stocks a range of books of local interest, as well as books suitable for learners of the Irish language at all levels. Beidh fáilte romhat!

e-mail:
info@westkerrymuseum.com

website:
www.westkerrymuseum.com

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The Dingle Bookshop

Green Street
Dingle
Tel: +353 (0)66 915 2433 e-mail: books@dinglebookshop.com

website:
www.dinglebookshop.com

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