I have no Irish, but my grandparents from Achill (Saula) and Swinford, made it easy for me to follow along. I enjoyed the stories and song and feel the islands in me. thank you
As a long term resident on the island I was... surprised... at some of the posts... Please see my replies and I am happy to reply to posts. We have all mod cons out here. ... What we call civilisation is... portable! But we also have a peace away from town traffic etc and at night with no street lights it really is DARK When I was new here I got stranded on my driveway in the dark.... Thick black... and utterly quiet... when the wind is hushed..
@@johngardiner2279 On starless nights eyes do not adapt. There has to be some ambient light for that. And yes, the utter silence when I wake in the night. Blessed i am in my old age.
My grandfather, whom I never knew, was McManamon from Inis Bigle and my nana from Doohoma. I'm living in Belmullet via Glasgow. This summer won't pass until I take the ferry out. I'm sure there must be family there still.
@@Delfinmar Ballycroy all one word and yes our ferry is a curragh. Need to contact Michael Leneghan. See his adverts inline. Also at the Achill end we have Joe O'Malley our postman who also runs his curragh as a ferry., Also needs to be booked in advance as is no passengers etc? Bigger boats would not get in to this harbour,
The older islansers ae bilingual. When I first visited a young lady from the Gaeltacht was visiting. She and the ferryman were chatting away in Irish...
Gan amhras bhí i bhfad nios mó oibre le fáil in Albain ná mar a bhéadh ar an oileán sin agus páigh níos airde chomh maith. Tá se uafásach brónach nuair a thuigeann tú go raibh méad mór daoine ar an oileán uair amháin agus nach bhfuil faic fágtha ann anois seachas na sean-daoine agus iad ag féachaint siar go h-uaigneach ar na sean-laetheannta. Daoine den scoth - tá siad i m'chroí.
Peadar, I find peace in your words and truth. Watching this video reminds me of something I once had. The world is darker more barbaric these days it seems and going back to the place you once loved seems to be the more logical rational choice to make than living in a place with no soul. Thank you for sharing.
Dia beannacht siad, is mian liom An Rialtais chabhródh na muintir na hOileáin. Tá a gcuid cultúr speisialta agus ní iarrainn mé a bás an cultúr na hOileáin
@Dawson Davis Unfortunately I think the death of Inis Bigil is inevitable. So just provide them with whatever they need until they all die as they are all getting too old to fish and farm. As I highly doubt a single person would move to any island in Ireland, so the only way possible to help would be able to provide them with supplies until they all die
But how can we help the Islands? I think it’s Arranmore that’s the most connected island in terms of technology in the world so that’s one thing, and island and just Irish culture in general has had so many attempts for its revive but unfortunately social media is English for 90% of Ireland. But still Irish is a compulsory language in schools, all road signs are in Irish and English, Irish culture and history taught in good detail in school. Also radio stations and tv channels that have shows and documentaries in Irish or about Irish culture. The only thing I would wish was maybe relaxing the laws on the islands. Island Farmer struggle keeping up to date with mainland Ireland Farmers because the herds are minuscule compared and the ground is really only suitable for mud. And trying to keep up with the animal laws like transporting and wellness of cattle and sheep is hard going.
@@ihonestlydontcare1158 Most the islands speak Irish so to have shit put into Irish for them is not hard. I mean they need a doctor, a vet or at least a nurse. Inis Bigils population is quite miniscule and all aul'd as the hills. But many islands like Cliara, Inis Torc, Acaill, Inis bó finne, Oileáin Arán ect have young people on them. All have reasonably grand data except Inis Torc. We can help them with these things that make the islands more appealing to live ob
@@aduantas Yes it's shocking. But the Government do not care about anything outside of Dublin nevermind this side of the Shannon. I do hope they'd help them but they're probably going to do nothing and let them die as they did Inis Gé theas, Inis Gé thua, the Blasket Islands and many other Islands off The West Coast. And the way our language is taught outside of An Gaeltacht and Na Gaelscoileanna is fucking disgraceful. I have a few friends who were taught Irish once a month in National school. Its a disgrace. I was lucky to come from an Irish speaking house. Not many Irish people get that though
The power's that be could have taught outside the box by way of getting like minded people together to visit the people on the island a few time's a month and maybe the islanders can visit the mainland. The interaction Could be a way of introducing a new demographic of people to island living. Maybe even moving there to carry on a tradition that has been there for hundreds of year's. It would be great for everyone involved. We need each other to carry on. 🇮🇪
People regularly visit from the mainland, especially for the Islands annual festival. The Islanders generally leave the Island once a week to collect their pensions.
@@dominiclloyd6651 Good to know, thanks for the update. Shame it seems no one is self sufficient anymore then, I'm sure it would be easier to achieve if there were young people around. I'm in the US at the moment and I'd walk away from it in a second for a chance to see if I can do it.
@@sallybennett7869 Maybe you could just start visiting islands and seeing if it's possible. I'm feeling a little bit old and being more than a little bit broke but I'm not writing it off entirely.
And changes have to happen. Here the .. inabilty of a few of the few remaining islanders to assimilate and welcome new folk who are needed is increasingly fragmenting any sense of community here. , New folk are needed and tey woll not be innate islanders. Only 14 folk now. And at that ratio personality clashes etc thrive. And even bullying starts. By next week there will be less than 14 here, and the old way dies as th eoldfolk die and retreat .
@@mariapierce2707 Thank you. It is sad that many folk see natural development as a tragedy, as "dying". Culture is a changing , growing phenomenon. Not static. It has to grow to meet modern developments. We got electricity in fairly recent times and that changed everything and made life so mucj easier.. Less picturesque! And we have the internet ( Thank you Westnet) emerrgency choppers that save lives. We can never live in past ages
@@islanddweller3674 no we can't. It's not good to be stagnant. I sincerely hope for a continued good outcome for all of you. Finding happiness is true wealth. I shall google your island to understand more about about it. Best wishes .😊
Loving this thread... NB before I came here I researched the many many small islands from Cape Clear to Donegal online and by emailing. We all and each have different needs and wishes and ideas. Cape Clear was just like any mainland region and too easy of access.. Too many people.. one or two were just too ... regimented.. for me, or no suitable isolated accommodation. Tory Island I would not touch with the proverbial bargepole and cats are an imtegral part of my life... and they are not very welcoming. When I visired here I was told,, ah we don;t have many facilities, is a self- deprecating tone of voice. when I said I do not need faciltiies..... we have water, power, a ferry.... westnet for internet connection...I knew I had found my new home. And moved in in a couple of weeks as there was a vacant council-owned place... There is a small house for sale near me; traditional three roomed Irish cottage, but no water supply etc. I am assured by he-who-know that the water pipes ( and the system is modern-) run close enough for that not to be a problem ... And it has total privacy and wonderful views.With one of the Achill agents.
Horseshit. I live in south Dublin . Both my parents were from the West. My father died last year aged 103. I know plenty about the hardships of rural Ireland
@@tuforu4 tis true for u. did plenty of both when i was a sprog during summer hols.Also my mother as a child was a contributer to the 1937 folklore project. Dev,s idea to get kids to ask their grand parents about old customs etc before they were forgotten forever. By the way half the people living around here have rural parents. And like me they grew up listening to the storys
@@jpmcmotor6890 it was so sad when i see the POOR IRISH in LONDON yrs ago beaten by alcohol. Ralph mactells STREETS OF LONDON sums it up.. I knew a GUY who barely KNEW his WIFE he worked so hard she died aged 50 just when they were coming back to IRELAND. Another guy tells me great storys of COOKING squirrels for breakfast on buillding sites. Sad tks
@@jpmcmotor6890 back then so many guys from here in tipperary went to LONDON aged 14 usually from big FAMILY'S and died YOUNG. The irish government got away with murder. Now trying to stop TURF PRODUCTION. I USE GO cavan for my summer holidays the land there was so bad. Down a lane there 26 familys Now no one there.. Sean Quinn created great employment there. Pity there was no more SEAN QUINNS b gud. Im70 geeeez
I've never been in Inis Bigil, but I have seen and passed it alot. It is a beautiful place. It's a shame how disassociated it was/is to the mainland. It's amazing seeing the Irish being spoken in this video as well. I was introduced poorly to Irish as a subject AND a language, and so honestly don't put the effort I should into it, as does nearly everyone I know in school. If there was one language I wish I knew, it's Gaeilge.
Not sure what you mean b disassociated? We choose this separate life. When I arrived I was told there were nno faciltities and I replied that that was why I had come here. We have the connections we need. I have not been offisland for several years by choice.
NB No one here would ever speak Gaelic when there were clearly non Garlic speakers listening. It would rightly be considered discourteous in the extreme.. My neighbours are bi-lingual. The only time i have heard Gaelic was when an offcial from An Gaeltacht was on the ferry . They may well speak it at home.
And a rebirth happened......We still have the traditions i we want,,, cutting and burning turf..a strong family life, Just we do it in greater comfort and with more pleasurea , That cul ture died its death but Ireland lives on, especially in rural areas ,,
You think we should still all be milking our own cow and all cutting our own turf? By candlelight? That so called culture was sheer survival and necessuty and d..... hard work . What are "new gaels"? We live a better life now than fifty years ago. Easier. There is no virtue in needless suffering! I Lived my first winter here wirh no electricity and it was far from romantic - or safe. Mire time now for real culture... like Mayo fotoball team !
Tá soiléir nach í an Ghaeilge teangaidh an oileáin le tamaillt. Struggling to speak the language in any reasonable fashion. Is mór a trua é, ach sin mar atá.
