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Gweedore

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Template:Infobox Irish Place Gweedore (Template:Lang-ga) is an Irish-speaking district located on the Atlantic coast of County Donegal, Ireland. Due to the Official Languages Act 2003, the Irish form of the name is now the only official version.[1] Gweedore is also the home of the northwest regional studios of the Irish language radio service Raidió na Gaeltachta.[2] Gweedore is officially the largest Irish-speaking parish in Ireland with a population of around 5,000. [3]

Name

Gaoth refers to an inlet of the sea at the mouth of the Crolly River. It is the boundary between Gweedore to the north and the Rosses to the south. Dobhar is an old Irish word for water. Gaoth Dobhair translates as the aqueous estuary.

Language

The predominantly spoken language of the district is Irish, but English can occasionally be heard and understood as well. All schools, religious services and advertisements are through Irish. [4]Since most of the inhabitants of the village are naturally bilingual, it is common to hear English vocabulary used within an Irish sentence and vice versa. A rich subset of unique vocabulary and phrases has arisen from this bilingualism and due to this, the village has attracted some curious interest from both lexicographers and etymologists in the past. Some examples of these phrases and words are given below, with their standard English definitions:

File:Gwedoresign2.jpg
Bilingual road signs in Gweedore.
  • Bammy - adj. 1. Eccentric; daft. 2. Of exhibiting anger. [Alteration of the Eng. Barmy.]
  • Shy (ball) - n. Used in place of the term 'throw-in' in association football (soccer). [Origin unknown.]
  • Big wow - adj. pejorative An expression of contempt for an unimpressive action or idea. [Elsewhere used as a positive remark for something fantastic, remarkable]

(All these terms are in common use in the Glasgow area. Many natives of this part of Donegal settled in the west of Scotland and there is still considerable interraction between the two places.)

  • ailte or eáilte - Irish suff. Used to form a Gaelicised version of English verbs: wreckailte - tired. [Generally used in the context of an equivalent Irish word either not existing or rendering the sentence form incorrect.]

History

The Ulster Plantation in 1609 added a twist to the fate of the parish. Irish-speaking families who were driven from their fertile lands in the Lagan and the surrounding areas made their way to the poor boglands of west Donegal. Some of them made it as far as Gweedore and could go no further west. Around the same time, English and Scottish settlers began to arrive, when this uncharted territory was converted to baronies. It appears the parish was very sparsely populated up until the 17th century. The first people to arrive lived on the islands or by the shore in clusters, pockets of houses built close together and in each other's shade.

A view of Gweedore from Bloody Foreland.

Up until the early 19th century the parish was only lightly populated and it seems the people had an amicable relationship with the landowners.

The standard of life was to deteriorate with the arrival of new landlords in the 19th century, in particular George Hill (1801-1879) and his son Arthur. The people of the parish led by Fr. Séamus Mac Pháidín (parish priest 1875-1901), challenged the landlords with the founding of the Land League and the Plan Of Campaign. The killing of District Inspector William Martin (or locally known as An Mháirtínigh) outside the local church, Teach Phobail Mhuire, in Derrybeg on Sunday, the 3rd February 1889, was the climax of the Land War in Gweedore.[5]

Many books have been published in English, but mostly in Irish detailing Gweedore's rich history. One of the most prolific of local historians would be the late Cáit Nic Giolla Bhríde.

Economy

In the 1980s and 1990s, Gweedore had a thriving factory industry, where up to 20 large companies were established producing rubber,carpets, slendertones, and cleaning agents. But in 2001 the companies were dealt a serious blow when most of these companies were destroyed by cheaper Eastern European products. Up to 4,000 dealers were lost, and this affected Gweedore and surrounding areas very badly.[6]

In 2003, the estate was renamed as Páirc Ghnó Ghaoth Dobhair (Gweedore Business Park), and the Gaeltacht body, Údarás na Gaeltachta, started a campaign to try to entice businesses to Gweedore in hope of reviving their lost economic stability. This worked to a certain extent, when Scottish company Contact 4 opened a call centre on the estate, which provided more jobs in the community. In 2006, the companies that remain there are very successful, such as Euro Iompú Teo, Sams Spudz, Contact 4 and Celtic Transcripts. [7] Otherbusinesses include a few supermarkets, convenience stores, beauticians, hairdressers, contractors, garages, chemists, pubs, cafes, and five well-established hotels.

Education

There are five primary schools in Gweedore, in the townlands of Derrybeg, Bunbeg, Mín an Chladaigh, Dobhar, and Luinneach. The only community school (post primary) is Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair, established in Luinneach in 1977, and is managed by headmaster Noel Ó Gallchóir. All these schools teach their students through the Irish language, and they sit their government exams in Irish. In 2004 National University of Ireland, Galway expanded to Gweedore when they opened Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge,[8] providing third level education through the Irish language to over 80 students every year.

File:Gaothdobhacad.jpg
Local university, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge.

Physical features

Gweedore is world-renowned for its beautiful physical features. Probably the most recognisable feature is Errigal, the tallest mountain in County Donegal. It is surrounded by the deep glens and misty lakes of the Poisoned Glen, and further on, Glenveagh national park and castle, the largest national park in Ireland.[9] Another landmark is 'Bád Eddie' (Eddie's Boat), which has been situated on Magherclogher beach since the early 70s where it had run ashore due to rough seas.

The Gweedore coastline consists of long sandy beaches and rugged cliffs. Also, off the Gweedore coastlines are many beautiful islands, including Gola, and Tory. Behind you a series of spectacular mountains, glens and bogs have combined with the bracing weather to keep this part of the world relatively secluded.

Transport

Gweedore railway station opened on 9 March 1903, closed for passenger traffic on 3 June 1940 and finally closed altogether on 6 January 1947.[10]

Sport

Sport plays a very important role in the lives of the local people, sports such as Gaelic football, soccer, golf and various others are exercised religiously by locals both young and old. There is the local Gaelic Athletic Association club CLG Ghaoth Dobhair (Gweedore GAA),[11] that provides facilities in Machaire Gathlán for young Gaelic football hopefuls, the local golf club and voluntary soccer clubs Gweedore Celtic, Gweedore United and Dunlewey Celtic that take part in both county and national competitions.

Well-known footballers from the area include Pat Crerand, Hugh Rua Gallagher, Niall Ó Gallchóir, Jack Phaddy Óig, Jim Mc Fadden, Kevin Cassidy, Antoin Carroll, Hiúdaí Beag Ó Gallchóir and Hughie Tim Boyle.

Music

A regular music session in Gweedore.

Gweedore has provided its fair share of famous musicians. Clannad were formed in 1972, and have since gone on to sell over 15 million records. Altan (initially Ceoltóirí Altan) are another band from Gweedore that have put the area on the global stage, they are lead by Coshclady fiddler Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh. Gweedore's most successful musician is Enya, or Eithne Ní Bhraonáin; she first appeared on stage in Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair as a member of Clannad, before going on to become one of the world's biggest-selling artists, with sales exceeding 70 million. Other local singers include Aoife Ní Fhearraigh, Brídín Brennan, Na Casaidigh, Proinsias Ó Maonaigh, Gearóidín Breathnach, Seamus McGee and Maria McCool.[12] The well-known 1970s group Skara Brae also had strong links with the district. There are two active choirs in the area. Cór Mhuire Doirí Beaga, lead by Baba Brennan and Eileen Nic Suibhne and Cór Thaobh 'a Leithid, lead by Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhríde.[13] Both have recorded successful albums.

The popular Frankie Kennedy Winter Music School takes part in Gweedore every new year in memory of the famous Belfast musician who was married to Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, until he died of cancer in 1994.[14]

The song Gleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair, was written by local man Proinsias Ó Maonaigh expressing an exile's final farewell to the green valleys of Gweedore.

Trivia

  • Gweedore is mentioned in many famous Irish songs, including "Mary From Dungloe" and "My Donegal Shore".
  • The tradition of going to the bog is still very much alive as turf is readily available in the hills surrounding Gweedore.
  • Parts of the 1992 film The Railway Station Man was filmed in Gweedore and nearby areas, it starred Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland.

Placenames in Gweedore

  • Derrybeg (Na Doirí Beaga)
  • Bunbeg (An Bun Beag)
  • Dore (Dobhar)
  • Lunniagh (Luinneach)
  • Glassagh (Glaiseach)
  • Ballindrait (Baile an Droichid)
  • Carrick (An Charraic)
  • Meenaniller (Mín an Iolair)
  • Middletown (Baile Lár)
  • Cotteen (Coitín or An Choiteann)
  • Meenacuing (Mín na Cuinge)
  • Bloody Foreland (Cnoc Fola)
  • Crolly (Croithshlí)
  • Dunlewey (Dún Lúiche)
  • Maghergallon (Machaire Gathlán)
  • Magheraclogher (Machaire Chlochair)
  • Meenaclady (Mín a'Chladaigh)
  • Brinaleck (Bun a'Leaca)
  • Ardnagappery (Ard na gCeapairí)
  • Carrickataskin (Carraig an tSeascain)

Islands

  • Gola (Gabhla)
  • Inishmen (Inis Meáin)
  • Inishirhir (Inis Oirthear)
  • Inishinny (Inis Sionnaigh)
  • Tory (Toraigh) - Although not directly situated off the coast of Gweedore, the main ferry crossings are from the area.

Notable people from Gweedore

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.sluggerotoole.com/archives/2004/12/gaeltacht_place.php
  2. ^ http://www.rte.ie/rnag/stair_eng.html
  3. ^ http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/travel/destinations/ireland/article2544786.ece A Lost Weekend in Donegal
  4. ^ http://www.crannog.ie/gaothbear.htm This is the Gaeltacht area, where the Gaelic language is the first spoken, providing an unbroken link with millenia of Irish history and culture.
  5. ^ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~donegal/chapter_one.htm
  6. ^ http://www.rte.ie/business//2001/0928/jobs.html
  7. ^ http://contact4.com/managementteam.htm
  8. ^ http://www.acadamh.ie/ionaid/gaoth_dobhair.html Is ceantar fíor-Ghaeltachta é an ceantar seo agus tá dhá cheantar láidre Gaeltachta eile ar an dá thaobh de, is é sin le rá Gort a' Choirce agus Rann na Feirste
  9. ^ http://www.frommers.com/destinations/ireland/0226023282.html
  10. ^ "Gweedore station" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved 2007-10-15.
  11. ^ http://www.clgghaothdobhair.com/CLG.asp?teanga=bearla
  12. ^ http://www.dun-na-ngall.com/gweedore.html
  13. ^ http://dun-na-ngall.com/nw71.html
  14. ^ http://www.frankiekennedy.com/
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