Oideas Gael, Courses and Class Levels

Are there any Entry Requirements for the Courses? No. Once you are over seventeen, you can participate in our courses. There are no qualifications required except that you are interested in learning or improving your Irish. People of all ages and language levels participate; this ensures a good learning dynamic and environment with everyone helping each other as a team.

What types of people attend Oideas Gael Courses? Over 1600 people participated in the year 2009 courses. 50% came from Ireland and the rest were from thirty different countries. People come from all social backgrounds, young and old, and may or may not be Irish or even have ancestral connections.

Can I register for more than one course in any one week? No. Most of the courses involve daylong participation in a chosen course. For example, if registered for an Irish course, the typical week is as follows:

For week-long courses:

Registration and orientation is on Saturday from 4pm onwards with orientation lecture at 9pm.
We have class allocation at 2.30pm on Sunday, with class from 3pm until 5pm.
Monday through Friday, classes are 10am–1pm & 3–5pm. Departure is on Saturday morning.
Those staying another week can use the day off to explore the Glen’s wonderful past.
Different activities are organised each evening from 8.30–9.45pm. These include Céilí dancing, singing, poetry and walks; there is a final class concert on Friday night.

For weekend courses:

Registration and orientation on Friday evening from 4pm onwards with orientation lecture at 9pm.

We also do class allocation & placement on Friday night.

Classes are Saturday morning from 10am–1pm & 3–5pm. Class finishes with departure on Monday at 1pm

If registering for Hillwalking or Flute Playing or Painting or any other course, these activities start each day at 10am and run until evening. Participants in all the courses are encouraged to join the evening activity sessions together.

How many people attend a course? It depends on the time of year. Our Easter, July & August courses can be very busy with sixty people or more. Our summer school in language & culture is our busiest week; we usually have over a hundred people in eight different levels. June courses may only have twenty to thirty participants per course.

How many in each class level? We work on a ratio of one teacher to fifteen learners. There are always at least three levels for up to 45 students. For every 15 extra participants, there will be an extra level. We could have up to six various levels in some courses.

May I stay for more than one week? Of course! Many participants register for two or more weeks. Some may do an Irish course for two weeks & follow with an activity course such as walking or flute or vice-versa.

If you are doing Irish for more than one week, it is usually possible to advance a level each subsequent week. This, of course, depends on your own progress and aptitude. Some decide, if absolute beginners, to do the same level again for further reinforcement.

We do advise those planning to do Irish for more than four weeks, to take a break after the third week & possibly do another activity. The courses are intensive and demanding—but again it does depend on your personal stamina and determination.

How soon before a course should I register? We advise you to register at least one month in advance. The weeklong courses in July & August are usually in high demand as are the weekend courses throughout the year.

What is the best method of payment?
You can opt to pay by credit card, debit card, bank transfer (email us for bank details) or cheque. We require payment for the first course on making the reservation. This can done online, by phone or by Skype. The balance (if attending more than one course), can be paid prior to arrival or while here.

Accommodation fees are paid, while here,  early in the week and it is best to have cash, as most accommodation providers don't have credit card facilities.

How does a person decide on which language level to attend? All participants are met on
arrival by the staff & are consulted on their previous language learning experiences, if any.
A class placement session with the whole group is organised; we usually manage, with the participant’s co-operation to get the right level… Level 1 is for absolute beginners. Level 2 is for those with some Irish & a reasonable comprehension level. Level 3 or higher if available, is for those with some spoken Irish or fairly fluent.

Do I learn reading and writing? The courses focus, for the greater part, on conversational Irish and only the higher levels focus on some reading & writing. We try to involve participants in activities that they wouldn't have a facility or opportunity for where they are at home.

What about grammar? We don't focus too much on grammar! Our class format encourages those who have grammatical queries to note them & the last fifteen minutes of each session are dedicated towards clarification on those issues. Teachers give printouts of basic grammatical issues.

What is different about the Language and Culture Summer School? This was our first ever course in 1984 & we still offer this programme every summer at the end of July. This offers language classes each morning only, at seven or eight various levels. Participants choose a workshop each afternoon from a range of activities from setdancing, sean-nós singing, walking, drama, tin whistle playing, folklore etc. We have concerts, poetry reading, and lectures each evening.

What dialect is used in the language teaching? Our first priority is to use professionally qualified and highly motivated teachers. The majority would be experienced in teaching in various places throughout Ireland and would therefore have clarity of presentation regardless of which dialect they use on a daily basis.

As we are located in Ulster, there will be a slight emphasis on the Ulster dialect but not to the detriment of others. We feel that dialect can become too major an issue for learners instead of focusing on the core language itself. We find that once people reach a certain level of fluency, they then place emphasis on one particular dialect, for one reason or another.

We know many excellent teachers with a Brooklyn, Chicago or Tokyo dialects!

What texts do you use? Our teachers use materials assembled by leading linguists such as Éamonn Ó Dónaill, of ‘Now You're Talking’ fame, as well as other well prepared materials. We give our teachers personal freedom in using other resources that they enjoy using. A good class always offers variety! We use a good core course, and also teach greetings, role-plays, songs, sayings and language games. Energy efficient enjoyable learning is our objective.

Will I enjoy myself? Most people are pleasantly surprised by their Oideas Gael experience. It is more than language learning! People make new friends from around the world and the dynamic of the course ensures that the overall experience (including the pub sessions) make for a memorable holiday.

Accommodations, etc.

If I stay in Self-catering — what is that like? We rent houses locally during the courses four or five participants share these, living & cooking together. It gives you the freedom to come & go as you want and stay within your preferred budget.

Most of the houses are within a short walking distance of Oideas Gael, have bathrooms with shower and heating. In some, you may need to learn how to light a turf fire-it isn't that difficult!

What is the on-campus accommodation? Oideas Gael has its own large house with eight bedrooms, all with their own bathroom. Most are twin or double with a few single rooms. It has its own sitting room, kitchen & dining room. This is our most popular accommodation choice, so reserve early! We also rent a few off-campus houses with en-suite facilities. You may, alternatively, be allocated one of these if the on-campus is fully reserved.

...accommodations, continued (go back)

Staying with a family? This accommodation is popular as it offers good value with bed, breakfast. Lunches and evening meals are available locally.

Do you cater for vegetarians or other dietary requirements? All of our accommodation providers are experienced for all dietary requirements. Just let them know when you arrive. You can even show them how to prepare for your own food needs!

Are there any other accommodation choices? Yes, many participants make their own accommodation reservations, based on previous experiences.
• Some people stay in Áras Gleann Cholm Cille. Sharon & Paul offer rooms on a self-catering or on a  B&B basis. It is two miles from Oideas Gael but a beautiful coastal walk.
• Others stay in the local Dooey Hostel, a budget hostel, five minutes walk. This hostel has a dramatic setting with a fabulous view of the valley and coastline. The proprietor, Mary, is a native Irish speaker, who usually teaches hostellers those curses and old sayings that our teachers would normally avoid using in class!  
• Roarty’s Bar & en-suite accommodation in Cashel Village, 5 minutes walk, is always popular and early booking is advised.
• The ‘Ionad Siúl’ or walking centre is a recent accommodation development with several en-suite rooms and generous self-catering facilities. It is a 2 minutes walk from Oideas Gael and is a popular choice in recent years.

Do you cater for families? We always recommend that a family rent a local cottage or house. We will assist in reserving this, if one is available. If parent/parents are attending the course, we can arrange for a local young person to look after the children during class sessions. Parent/parents make their own arrangement with the childminder on arrival.

Bed clothing and linen requirements? All the self-catering houses & our on-campus have duvets, pillows etc. People prefer to bring their own sheets, towels & pillowcases. We have our own back-up supply if you are coming from abroad & would prefer not to carry extra luggage.

School, Area, and Local Facilities

Do you have your own centre? Yes. When we started our courses in 1984, we used the local school. However, as demand was growing, we organised a funding package & built our own centre in 1991.
• ‘Foras Cultúir Uladh’ (The Ulster Cultural Centre) has its own classrooms, library, computer suite with free broadband for course participants, offices and exhibition area.
• We also have a restaurant ‘An Chistin’, which is franchised to a local family and provides meals during the year.
• We have our own book shop (An Siopa Gaeilge) specialising in Irish language learning courses, music CDs, books, cards, etc.

Who are the Oideas Gael directors? The founding directors, Liam Ó Cuinneagáin & Professor Seosamh Watson are both internationally known for their innovative approaches to language learning.

Liam spent over twenty years as a primary teacher & school principal in Dublin and has taught the language at every level. He is a well-known language activist and is at present Cathaoirleach (Chairpman) of Údarás na Gaeltachta, the agency responsible for the cultural & economic wellbeing of the Gaeltacht regions nationally.

Seosamh is a leading Irish language academic, originally from Belfast, and is Professor Emeritus of Modern Irish at University College, Dublin. He is also a fluent Scots Gaelic speaker & is intimately familiar with Scotland & Nova Scotia. He is visiting professor at numerous universities internationally.

What is Gleann Cholm Cille like? We obviously think that it is the most beautiful place on earth & many others think likewise!

It is a valley with Donegal hills on three sides and opening into the wild Atlantic Ocean. You may look at a beautifully designed, dedicated site by Ken Barrett to find out more about the area, or explore the bilingual Gleann Cholm Cille community web site. Also, a full-colour bi-lingual guidebook on Gleann Cholm Cille, is available from the Siopa Gaeilge.

What else is there to do? There is an excellent Folk Museum, with reconstructed houses showing how people lived here over the centuries. There are excellent beaches (you must always be cautious, due to irregular currents).

The area is highly regarded for it excellent scenic & challenging walks, particularly on Slíabh Liag. There is excellent sea, lake and river angling; our nearest golf course is in Portnoo (18 miles).

The pubs are typical of the Donegal region and offer a wide range of music, particularly traditional Irish music.

There are some excellent local restaurants offering fresh local seafood and traditional dishes.

Are there local shops? Yes. There are grocery shops in the village, open daily until 10pm and offering a wide range of foods. There is an excellent vegetarian/organic foods shop in Donegal Town, called Simple Simon. It is right on the Diamond—just ask a local!

Where is the nearest bank? The nearest Bank is in Killybegs—fifteen miles away. Bring some cash for the first few days. We usually organise lifts for people who may want to access an ATM machine during the week.

Is there a launderette? Yes. This facility is close to Oideas Gael and offers prompt service.

Are there local medical services? Yes. There is a local doctor attending the medical centre regularly. Our nearest pharmacy is in Killybegs and we can arrange for the collection of medication.

Can I use the Internet while at Oideas Gael? Yes.

Weather and Clothing

What is the weather like? You cannot predict Irish weather! June July & August is usually dry & summery with probable light showers. It may be cold today & warm tomorrow. It may be showery in the morning with beautiful sunshine in the afternoon. Who cares?

What is the best type of clothing to bring? Always be prepared for light showers in summer. If you are participating in any course that may involve outdoor activity, such as walking, archaeology, environment or painting, be sure to bring along strong walking shoes and waterproof outdoor wear.

Travel

Can I get to Oideas Gael easily? Yes. We are very fortunate to have an excellent transport system to bring you to the Glen. There is a daily service directly from Dublin offered by Bus Éireann or Mc Geehan's Coaches, departing from Busáras (Central Bus Station) in Store St., in Dublin’s city-centre. Bus Éireann also provides an service from Galway linking you to a local bus leaving the Abbey Hotel, Donegal Town, each day (except Sunday) at 6.15pm. When in Busáras, ask for return ticket to Glencolmcille. The express bus goes directly to Donegal town to link with the local bus at the Abbey Hotel. If by chance, you miss connections & arrive in Donegal Town late, call us on or office line at 074 97 30248 and our after-hours cellphone is 087 956 7314.

We have been concerned, in recent years, at the high prices Donegal Town taxis charge if asked to bring you to Glen. (30 miles). You should negotiate fare or decide to stay in a B&B until next day. If you are arriving into Donegal Airport, let us know. The taxi fare can be expensive & we may know of others travelling here and who would share with you. If there is a larger group travelling together, it will be cheaper to organise transport from Glen to collect you.

How do I leave the Glen? We usually link people on the courses who are looking for a lift with those with a car and going their way. This usually works out if heading for Derry, Belfast, Sligo, Dublin or Galway. The buses leave everyday as well.

What about getting accommodation in other places? We can usually recommend a good B&B, Hostel or Hotel in Dublin or elsewhere. This can be reserved using your own credit card details before your arrival or during your stay here.

Any other questions?

Please feel free to ask! You may log into our message board with other questions, which may be answered by former Oideas Gael participants—or e-mail ourselves directly: oideasgael@eircom.net.

Slán tamall!
(Goodbye for now!)

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