Apart from a little dog who managed to get lost, we had a brilliant first night for our first ever ‘Siúlach Scéalach’ in Claregalway last week.

A lovely mixture of Irish speakers and learners turned up to walk for an hour on the pathway which links the Claregalway and Turloughmore GAA grounds, an area which boasts spectacular views of An Eachréidh.

As we approached Knockdoe Hill (Hill of the Axe), locals explained to us the significance of the Battle of Knockdoe in 1504 in which hundreds of men lost their lives.

There are many cairns (burial mounds) near the summit of Knockdoe and the battle is believed to have been the first in Ireland in which firearms were used.

The locals also expressed gratitude to the Kearney family who donated the public pathway to the local community a few years ago – the area boasts spectacular views of the Corrib, Connemara, and the level land or plain after which Gaeltacht an Eachréidh was named.

We broke into smaller groups during the one-hour walk, the idea being that people with stronger Irish could encourage those who are learning or a bit “rusty” with the language. .

The idea behind the ‘Siúlach Scéalach’ is that people can relax and talk to one another in our native language while exercising and you do not need to be fluent in Irish to take part.

The group will meet up at the Claregalway GAA Centre in Knockdoe again on Wednesday, April 22 (7.30pm) for a one hour walk and organiser Gearóid O Fathaigh says that anyone with an interest in practicing or learning some Irish is more than welcome to take part.

Participants will be encouraged to speak ‘as Gaeilge’ and learn from either other over the course of a one hour walk. The concept of the walk is based on the Irish ‘seanfhocal’ “An té a bhíonn siúlach, bíonn scéalach’ which means that those who travel have stories to tell.

All you have to do is turn up at the car park at the Claregalway GAA grounds in Knockdoe at 7.30pm on a Wednesday evening. Look out for Gearóid in his ‘high vis’ jacket!

The Eircode is H91 E7F4.

Oh, and the little dog returned to the clubhouse in the end!

Bígi linn – join us for some conversation, craic, and an hour of gentle exercise on the hill!