Ó achan chearn den tír a tháinig siad – agus duine a rugadh é sa Fhrainc agus duine eile a rugadh é ar Oileán Mhanann ina measc – chun deireadh seachtaine a chaitheamh i dTeach Jack, An Ghlaishigh. Tugadh ‘Tumchónaí Gaeltachta’ ar an imeacht arna eagrú ag Líonra Leitir Ceanainn agus Rannóg na Gaeilge, Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall mar gheall ar an sprioc a bhí ann go mbeadh Gaeilge á labhairt ag achan duine ó thús go deireadh na seachtaine. Chaith siad an chéad oíche in Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair, áit a raibh Féile Drámaíochta ar siúl. Bhí an t-ádh dearg orthu go bhfaca siad “An Bhaintreach” le Nuala Ní Mhaolchulainn agus “Iomrallach” le hEoghan Mac Giolla Bhrighde. Is iomaí a dúirt ina dhiaidh nach ndearna siad an oiread sin gaire le blianta anuas.
Bhí seisiún ióga le Maria Coleman ó Chomhcheol chun tús séimh a chur le maidin Dé Sathairn sular scaip na rannpháirtithe ina dtrí ghrúpa. D’imigh scaifte beag go Drioglann Chroithlí áit ar bhlas siad neart den uisce beatha iontach atá ar fáil ansin – agus caithfidh go raibh sé go maith mar gur chaith siad neart airgid chun buidéil a thabhairt abhaile leo! Chuaigh dream eile suas Cnoc na Naomh agus Aodh Mac Gairbheá acu mar threoraí. Is iomaí scéal atá ag Aodh agus faoin am a raibh siad ina suí sa chaife ar ché Mhachaire Rabhartaigh bhí saibhreas béaloidis agus eolais faoi logainmneacha agus eile acu. Bá é go Gabhla, trasna na dtonnta le Sabba Den, a chuaigh an dream eile, fiche cúig acu san iomlán agus Eddie Joe Mhic Aoidh leo mar threoraí. Is duine de bhunadh an oileáin é Eddie agus arís saibhreas eolais, scéalaíochta agus staire aige le roinnt leis an ghrúpa. Lá galánta a bhí ann agus b’iontach na radhairc a bhí le feiceáil fud fad an oileáin.
Ar fhilleadh dóibh ar ais go Teach Jack – agus cuid eile lonnaithe thíos i dTeach Campbell mar go raibh Teach Jack líonta acu – rinne Frank agus Eileen Sweeney ceardlann a sholáthar dóibh ar damhsa ar an sean-nós ar bhain achan duine an-taitneamh as. I ndiaidh béile iontach i dTeach Jack an tráthnóna sin, tháinig ceathrar ó ‘An Crannóg’ isteach chun ceol a sheinm agus bhí cuid mhaith de na cuairteoirí breá ábalta uirlis a sheinm nó amhrán a chanadh fosta. Oíche áirneáil den scoth a bhí ann. An mhaidin dár gcionn sular scaip na rannpháirtithe go ceithre chúige na tíre bhí craic agus comhrá ann faoi na focail agus frásaí úra a d’fhoghlaim daoine agus faoi shaibhreas Ghaeilge Uladh!
They came from all over the country - even someone who was born in France and another who was born on the Isle of Man - all to spend a weekend in Teach Jack, Glassagh in Gweedore. The event, organised by Líonra Leitir Ceanainn and Rannóg na Gaeilge at Donegal County Council, was called a 'Tumchónaí Gaeltachta' otherwise known as a Gaeltacht immersion experience, a weekend wherein all participants would use the Irish language exclusively from beginning to end. The first night was spent in Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair where there was a Drama Festival taking place. The group were delighted to get the opportunity to see "An Bhaintreach" by Nuala Ní Mhaolchulainn and "Iomrallach" by Eoghan Mac Giolla Bhrighde, many of whom said that they hadn't laughed so hard in years.
A yoga session with Maria Coleman of Comhcheol set a peaceful tone to the day on Saturday morning before the group was split into three smaller groups. One headed off to the Crolly Distillery where everyone tried out all the fantastic whiskey options available there - and they certainly tasted delicious judging by the amount of money spent to bring bottles back home with them! Another crowd went up Cnoc na Naomh with the guide Aodh Mac Gairbheá. Aodh had loads of stories to tell, and by the time they were sitting down in the café to the left of Magheraroarty, folklore tales, history of the local placenames and much more had been discussed. It was across the waves to Gola island with Sabba Den that the third group went, which consisted of 25 people who had Eddie Joe Mhic Aoidh along with them as their guide. Native to the island, Eddie similarly had a wealth of knowledge, incredible stories and historical facts which he shared with the group. It was a beautiful day, and the views all over the island were incredible.
Everyone then returned to Teach Jack - although some were staying in Teach Campbell as Teach Jack was full to capacity - where they participated in a Sean Nós dancing workshop led by Frank and Eileen Sweeney, a workshop which the group thoroughly enjoyed. After a delicious meal in Teach Jack that evening, four musicians from 'An Crannóg' called in to provide some music, while many of the tumchónaí participants themselves were also happy to join in with their instruments or by singing a song. It really was a fantastic oíche áirneáil! The next morning before everyone headed back home, there was lots of craic and comhrá about the new words and phrases learnt during their stay in addition to the distinct beauty of Ulster Irish!