Impressions of Dingle

Life in the Dingle Peninsula

 

When I found out that I was studying in Dingle, Ireland I was so excited.  Even though I have lived in many different places my whole life I didn’t exactly know what to expect.  I tried to research as much as I could about Ireland and Dingle especially, to make sure I was prepared.  Getting off the airplane and taking a two-hour bus ride to Dingle, was just the beginning to a wonderful experience.  The whole ride I was looking out at frost-covered fields (because of the “huge” freeze that Ireland got), sheep, and a beautiful land filled with many rich cultures. 

The first week in Dingle was definitely an experience.  Trying to get over the jet lag and get all the essentials for our house was just the start.  Since the two-week kids were still here we went out many of the nights to the different pubs and met many of the locals, old and young.  We went from a pub, which was also a hardware store (Foxy Johns) to the Small Bridge where we listened to our music teacher play traditional Irish music.  This was definitely a change of pace from what the days in Dingle are; quiet but relaxed.  This first week was just one of the many that I would be spending in Ireland. 

The classes are also very interesting in that we are learning pretty much everything Ireland has to offer; from the traditional Irish music to how people first settled here on the Dingle Peninsula.  In music we are learning to play the tin whistle which isn’t that bad at all.  We are learning all different styles of music such as polkas.  Our teacher even made us learn how to sing an Irish song, Mo Ghile Mear.  The class that is the most challenging is language because there are many sounds that the English language doesn’t have making it hard to speak Gaelic.  Our teacher, however, does his best to help and by the end of the class we all are having conversations with one another in these deep voices mimicking our teacher. 

            There is just so much to be learnt in these next three months that I can’t even imagine what more I could possibly learn.  In my eyes I have learnt so much and seen so much in just a short period of time.  The few field trips to a church, a graveyard, tombs, and the hill top views have been amazing because we can actually see in real up close and personal the history of Ireland.  It has all been a wonderful experience this past month and I can’t wait for our first 10 day break where I will be visiting the sites of Paris, Naples, and Rome.

Kelly P. Spring Semester 2010 

           

Comments

[Lemasson Anaëlle]

hi !
I am a french student and i don't know how i came accross that article but anyway ...
i will be in Dingle at the end of the month, doing my internship for the whole month of may, and i am desperate finding a place to stay !
Since you live in Dingle i was hoping maybe you could help me.
I tried to contact some youth hostels but they are not that cheap and i don't think they would let me stay a month.
So maybe you know some friends who would host me or something (i know it's a bit rude of me as i don't even know you... but i'm nice and of course i'm willing to pay for the rent and stuff... i just need a place to sleep at night !)

hoping you can help me out
Regards (from the sunny French Riviera!!)
Anaëlle Lemasson