So, to my friends in Ireland (or those who are planning to be in Ireland in July/August)...here's what my plans look like so far:

Arriving in Dublin 11 July. Due in Gleann Cholm Cille 13 July. I currently have reservations at Abigail's Hostel in Aston Quay for the nights of 11/7 and 12/7, assuming that I'll have no problem getting Bus Éireann from Dublin to GCC on the morning of the 13th (my Dublin plans may alter based on that, but if I recall correctly it's a pretty easy connection).

I will be in Gleann Cholm Cille from 13 July - 19 July, in Gleann Fhinne from 20 July - 2 August, and back in GCC from 3 August - 10 August. My goal for this course is to achieve conversational fluency, so I'm going to be very hard on myself in terms of language...all Irish, all the time, insofar as I am able. That may make me a wee bit less chatty than usual, because my brain still has big linguistic gaps, so there may be a lot of "er...eh...ní thuigim...er...braitheann sé...srl" going on, but I'm still happy to meet with you when I'm not in class if we're going to be in the same area. Just be mean to me and make me stick to my goal, OK? I really have to push myself here, and not let myself fall into the easy path of resorting to English if it's not absolutely necessary. I have enough vocabulary and grammar that I really don't have an excuse, and I don't want an excuse. This is my chance to get past that gap, and I'm not going to blow it.

On 10 August I'll be done with my course, and it looks like it's not difficult to get from Gleann to Galway, so that's what I'm going to do. Looking forward to meeting up with friends in that area! Bríd, if you don't mind my crashing with you for a night or so, that would be great, but if you have other people in at that time, I can also grab a hostel in Galway and get the bus out to An Ceathrú Rua...can't wait to meet you and the doggies!

I'm flying out of Dublin on the morning of 14 August, and want to be back in town at least a day or two before. That part of the trip is more fluid right now...I'll be firming things up in the next couple of days. I want to keep a day or so at the end of the trip flexible, in case it make a difference in terms of hooking up with other friends, so let me know! I'm posting this here and at Facebook, because I want to connect with as many of my Irish/Irish language friends as possible! Those days between the end of the course on 10/8 and my departure on 10/14 have some flexibility built in.

So stoked! I made my flight reservations and my hostel reservations for the early part of the trip today (already confirmed with Oideas Gael). This is really happening!

Redwolf

Even though I'm new here and I don't really know you let me wish you a very good time in Ireland, Redwolf.

Sounds like you'll have a great time. Over a month, too. Plenty of time to learn.

Bain sult as, a Redwolf! tá 'n t-ádh ort go dtig leat an méid sin ama a chaitheamh in Éirinn agus go háiríd i dTír Chonaill -- gidh go bhfuil níos mó cainteoir dúthchais san Iarthuaisceart ná i gceanntar Ghleann Cholm Cille.

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Is fearr Gaeilg na Gaeltaċta ná Gaeilg ar biṫ eile
Agus is í Gaeilg Ġaoṫ Doḃair is binne

Bain sár-thaitneamh as, a Redwolf!

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Please wait for corrections/ more input from other forum members before acting on advice

So here's a question for those who know Donegal...

I'm four weeks there, and I may have a wee bit of time on the weekends. Is it possible to get from Gleann Fhinne or Gleann Cholm Cille to Gaoth Dobhair (and back again) relatively easily via bus?

Redwolf

https://ecommerce.buseireann.ie/asp/eTi ... 2wodWBUA9w

Depart from Dublin on desired date. Select Standard return (valid for one month). Costs 38 euro return. Destination will be "glencolumbcille".

Oh, I know how to get between Dublin and Gleann Cholm Cille on Bus Éireann. I was just wondering about the feasibility of getting to Gaoth Dobhair from either Gleann Cholm Cille or Gleann Fhinne (and back) on the weekend, as I may have a bit of time between classes.

Redwolf

Wow. I can't stop myself mis-reading posts these days Sorry.

Well, I don't know really, but assuming there's a good bus that services te route, it's about 50 miles away (less) so and hour 15 on the bus would do it (small Irish roads :P). https://www.google.ie/search?q=distance ... e&ie=UTF-8

But after a quick search, it doesn't like Bus Eireann service that exact route. Though I really amn't the person from which to get this info

Ah well, it was mainly a curiosity. I don't know how the timing will work out in any case. It's just one of those places on my bucket list.

Redwolf