Cape Clear - Oileán Chléire

Contents   Page Information Danny Mike Michéal Ó Dálaigh SIGN Guestbook Graphics and Slideshow Link List Fastnet Rock Comments and Suggestions		Learn Irish Online Gaeltalk.net
		Cape Clear Learning Centre Cape Clear Island Language Services Ionad Foghlama Chléire Seirbhísí Teanga Oileáin Chléire

Page Information

During the last few days of August 1999, we visited Cape Clear. We stayed in Árdgort, which as the name suggests is on a height and overlooks, to the north, the magnificent panorama of Roaringwater Bay with its wide expanse of water and many other islands.

Apart from enjoying the refreshing calmness and solitude of Árdgort we were delighted to be invited on a nature/bird watching tour by Pete Oliver. Some of Pete's drawings are included in this page. It was interesting to see the skills and protocol involved in the practice of bird watching. More to the point it was interesting to see and put names on both the common and rare birds which visit the island.

We begun our trip in a field near Tír na nÓg and then traversed the cliffside path on the southwest of the island to get to Blannaurraga. On the way we spotted shags, lizards and beautiful views of South Harbour and the wide Atlantic Ocean. When we got to the cliffside overlooking Bollán na nDeargán*, we came upon the staff of the Cape Clear Bird Observatory on a field trip and were treated to a spectacular display of bird activity with explanations fortcoming on all aspects of nature, birds, behaviour, equipment and safety. Putting aside my own pair of binoculars, with which I could see porpoises close enough to shore, I used the more powerful viewers of the Bird Observatory. With a little guidance, I soon saw a very active pod of dolphins, further out to sea . On to the west we could clearly see the Fastnet.
* Bollán (sometimes Bullán) is anything big-like a big rock, a bullán might be 'a heifer'. Deargán is the fish bream. - Cork Place Names Committee

On our return we walked through the open fields on the west of Cape. At the inlet we turned back to the road and came out by the lake and returned home through herds of midgies.

Download SLIDESHOW

Web address
http://homepage.eircom.net/~dodonovan/

Back to Top

TÍRDHREACH OILEÁN CHLÉIRE
le / by: Éamon Lankford

Back to Top

Graphics

Drawing of a Great Northern Diver superimposed on a sketch of South Harbour Drawing of a Peregrine Falcon

Artist
Pete Oliver

Back to Top

Link List

• Cape Clear
• More Pictures from

• Homepage

Back to Top

Peadar Ó Ceannabháin, from Iorras Aintheach in West Connemara.

Mo Chuid Den tSaol Éist le Sampla

Sadhbh Ní Bhruinnealla (Trad. arr. Ó Ceannabháin) (MÓC Music)

Ní iarrfainn de spré le Sadhbh Ní Bhruinnealla
ach Baile Inis Gé is cead éalú ar choinníní.

Curfá
Óra a Shadhbh, a Shadhbh Ní Bhruinnealla,
A chuisle is a stóirín, éalaigh is imigh liom.

Fear maith i mbád mé togha fear iomraimh
Fear sluaisid' is láí ar dhá cheann an iomaire.

Máistir báid mhóir mé a' gabháil ród na Gaillimhe
D'fhliuchfainn naoi bhfód is ní thóigfinn aon fharraige.

Máistir báid mhóir go deo ní ghlacfad,
Nuair a fhaigheann siad an chóir 'sé is dóichí nach bhfanann siad.

Mhionnóinn naoi n-uaire ar leabhar mór an Bhairéadaigh
Nach scarfainn go deo le Sadhbh Ní Bhruinnealla.

Níl falach i gcabhail ar Shadhbh Ní Bhruinnealla,
Ach seanchóitín donn gan cabhail gan muinchille.

Nuair a théimse 'un an chomhra ag comhaireamh an airgid
Bíonn an iníon is an bhean is iad caillte le gean orm.

Nuair a thiocfas lá breá 'gus an ghaoth ón bhfarraige
Tabharfaidh mé Sadhbh liom go céibh na Gaillimhe.

Óra a Shadhbh, a Shadhbh Ní Bhruinnealla,
A chuisle is a stóirín, ba rí-mhaith dhuit mise agat!

Fastnet Rock Lighthouse

Back to Top

Comments and Suggestions

Back to Top

Copyright
Last revised: July 27, 2006.