Failte go Eireann

Friday, June 20 at 8pm

My flight to Ireland was relaxing. I had the entire row to myself and was able to sleep through take-off (we departed an hour after schedule) and breakfast with only an hour or so of reading in the middle. I was having mixed emotions about the trip until I stepped out with my luggage and met Martin. Another member of the Solas team, his outgoing and considerate personality made me excited about Ireland, the program, and my stay here. Everyone is incredibly friendly and all have gone out of their way to make me feel welcome (failte) – telling me stories, feeding me, checking on my accommodations, and teaching me Irish (what we call Gaelic).

We drove through Northern Ireland where Martin brought me up to speed on the political and social climate, stopped in Londonderry temporarily, picked up a mobile phone in Letterkenny (my mobile number is 011-353-86-370-5231), and drove the back road (yes, that’s what it’s called) around Muckish Mountain. One of the first songs I heard on the radio was Gravity by Sara Bareilles. Good music, good views, good people… the day was off to a good start.

The area in which I’m living has a great deal of culture and history. The area is called “Cloc Ceann Faola,” named after the legend of a giant from Tory Island who approached a local man for his daughter’s hand in marriage. The gentleman refused and decapitated him on a rock (or so I’m told – read the legend here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloughaneely)


The area of Cloc Ceann Faola includes Falcarragh and Gortahork. Falcarragh is slightly larger (and by larger, I mean a single road town with approximately a quarter-mile of shops) and is where my house and the HSE office is located. The office is in a building called An tSean Bheairic, Irish for “the old barrack.” It was the police barracks but now contains shops and communal spaces. The house I’m staying in is within walking distance of the office and is used for other training activities.

Gortahork is in Gaeltacht, the primarily Irish speaking area of the country. Although I’m just outside the Gaeltacht (by about a half-mile), I have been greeted by several people in Irish and have been taught a few phrases, including u-‘wal-tu goo-‘mye (my phonetics) which means “how are you?” I also learned that my name is pronounced like “catch” in Irish. Pretty sweet.

The entire area is incredibly gorgeous and rural. The closest I can compare it to is the northern side of the Dingle Penninsula. There are golden beaches, green rolling hills, and mist covered mountains. While unpacking I stopped because I heard vibrating, only to realize that it was the sheep across the street. From my back step I have a view of great view of Muckish. From the front yard, I have an old stone building, sheep, and a view of Mt. Errigol.

view from front walk

view from back door

I learned a bit more about the Solas program and what I’ll be doing this summer. The program was unveiled last Wednesday so there are news articles from yesterday and today that I was able to read. The program is "designed to engage people who have been involved with the mental health system in outdoor activities. The aim is to restore confidence, break isolation, and create a caring listening atmosphere, leading to enhanced life skills." Although I’ve read about it, I’m told that I won’t truly understand it until I’ve been out on a hike. Everyone is incredibly passionate about this program and what they are doing – it makes me even more excited to jump in. You can read more from written accounts of members: http://www.solasdonegal.org/news.html