SPIDDAL CONNEMARA AND WHY I DON'T SPEAK IRISH.

[@INTUITIVENORSK2303]

👋Hi again Dear Don, I just watched this & quite a few of your other videos again & Ok I won't lie now. I'm addicted that's right!😂 I think we've been watching you long enough now, for me to admit, that we just love you & your videos!! You're a wee breath of fresh air & you're always honest & say things as you see them, which is exactly what we love here. NO BS!!😊 I'm @ home for a few days, so while I potter around, I'll just keep searching your video list & watch again, as many as I can. A great idea I say! We hope this msg finds you well.✌

[@donstravelsandrants.]

Thank you so much. You do wonders for my self esteem. 👍😊🇮🇪💙🇦🇺

[@bostonmike5981]

Just subscribed, I love your content. My grandfather was from Connemara and didn't teach my father or aunts/uncles the Irish language because back then in the States there were a lot of Yankees who would discriminate against people who spoke Irish or were Catholic. I hear you about the church. I find true spirituality alone on a mountaintop surrounded by nature, not in a church where another person of flesh and blood is trying to hammer into me a set of morals that they themselves don't follow. I did 12 years of Catholic school however and they did give me a great education, even though I hardly paid attention.

[@donstravelsandrants.]

Thanks Mike. Agree with what you have to say. 👍😊

[@conorspyridon7008]

I'm 28 and I suffered greatly at school from bully teachers. I absolutely understand your feelings. I left secondary in 2013 with 150/700 points. My biggest regret was not leaving school sooner. My family was very hard to live with. I was going a bit mental actually. I ended up hating Irish and Ireland and Irish people as young as like 12 years old. I fled to England then Spain with my cousin. I might be missing important events in my life but in the end my cousin wanted to go to Međugorje. I hated catholicism as I associated it with irishness. I even briefly attendded a protestant church and Muslim mosque ( maybe to p*ss off my parents ) anyway ...at Međugorje i experienced something I'll never forget. I witnessed a demonic possession and I met with so many people whom their lives had changed. They showed me miracle photos and the feeling there was .... Something else. To be close to God is to cease to be depressed . To make a long story short hahaha , I renewed my faith . Now , GOD gave me my 'irishness'. I was meant to be Irish. He gave me a country that has its own language thats my language. What I'm saying is , now I'm making peace and reclaiming and recovering from years of hatred and hurt. Ireland was given to me as a gift and the Irish language as it's icing on the cake. I can't hate what the Lord had given. Thank you Don as we have similar stories. God bless 🙏

[@donstravelsandrants.]

Thanks Connor. 👍😊

[@conorspyridon7008]

@@donstravelsandrants. You're welcome don my brother. In your video I could see in your eyes that you've been hurt or been through some tough things. I could be completely wrong but that's what I saw. I couldn't not reach out and say that even me a 'gen z' or abouts... I suffered the same. Now in my gen, the teachers couldn't touch me as in your day, but the shouting and threats and smart slimy comments deeply hurt me. I'm really really understand you. Keep being a champion brother 😎💪🇮🇪

[@rachelreynolds0430]

I'm sorry for the things you experienced as a child, Don. .. Beautiful video as always 💛

[@donstravelsandrants.]

Thanks Rachel. A lot of people could tell similar stories unfortunately. Glad things have changed since then. 👍😊

[@INTUITIVENORSK2303]

👋Hi there Don, Always good to see you once again & I've really enjoyed watching this video, seeing the lovely scenery & hearing you speak. I'm very sorry however, to hear of your childhood experience. I do feel for you & I can certainly relate, as I've had some nasty experiences of my own, which I won't get into via this space. IMPO, I think that negative childhood experiences, can surely affect us in varying ways & we may require some professional assistance as adults, to be able to cope & function well, both personally & societally. Yes I too, have been left with some personal issues, because of my childhood experiences. You know Don, there's a little something, that our primary or secondary caregivers fail to think about or remember & that is, that the child they're abusing either physically, emotionally or verbally, is someday going to grow up & when they do, they'll remember the negative event/s & the perpetrator/s, will surely have to pay the price, which many do. I should also add, that my Dear late Grandmother, was raised by the Irish Nuns & she shared with me, that she witnessed many students being verbally abused, being physically abused/smacked/hit by them. She said back then, this was all considered quite normal & even acceptable. She also remembered, hearing stories from her friends, regarding the harsh discipline they received @ home & she told me, that was just how it was back then. And I've heard others say the exact same thing, so this was quite commonplace & certainly not unheard of. I've also watched numerous reputable documentaries, regarding such stories & regarding the Irish Priests & Nuns. It's so funny, because as I watch you more & more, I'm coming to find out, that I can relate to quite a few of your personal & general stories. As I see it, there are parts of global history, that are surely very shameful events. On a much happier note, this region is beautiful & it's where many of my husband's ancestors hail from. It won't be too long now, before we're in Ireland, so we're feeling quite excited & starting to count down the days now. lol Thanks again & do take care. Cheers & Peace✌

[@donstravelsandrants.]

We live in different times now. I don't hold any animosities to any of those teachers. It was what it was, and I'm glad things have changed. My youngest niece and nephew go to an educate together school, where they don't have to wear a uniform and call their teachers by there first name. There is mutual respect and certainly no fear. 👍😊

[@thissecondhalfadventure]

Lovely weather that day! So sorry for your horrid experience with learning Irish, and with the Church…☹️ We have a term here in the states for people who left Catholicism but ended up finding a different denomination that worked for them - Recovering Catholics. We wish you well my friend😊🇮🇪🇺🇸♥️

[@donstravelsandrants.]

Well thank you so much, but I've had enough of the God stuff. 🤣👍😊🇮🇪🇺🇲

[@donrussell2797]

This was a spectacular video! I’ve loved your fair-visits lately but this is so much of what we enjoy watching! I’m sorry you suffered so much in school. It shouldn’t have to be like that. We’ve not been to Spiddal but now will try to fit it in. Where were all the people? We usually try to visit in the Fall to avoid other tourists. We love how peaceful Connemara is. You really captured it. What town was your BnB? I love Clifden an Roundstone. And Ballynahinch hotel. Thanks for going here.! Don and Anne

[@donstravelsandrants.]

Thank you Don and Anne. The B n B was in Galway. I will be uploading a video from Round stone soon. 👍😊🇮🇪🇺🇲

[@mirahmedgb]

Like 26 its amazing job dear friend thanks for sharing stay blessed with safe ❤❤❤❤

[@katenoke1571]

Ah Don, I'm so sorry to hear about your struggles with Irish. I grew up in Moycullen in the 70s and 80s, one of 5 children. Two of us did fine learning Irish and I remember our sessions when the cigire would come to Moycullen National School and quiz us for 10 pounds, lol. My other three siblings absolutely detested Irish, and my mother actually moved them to Bushypark school instead to finish up primary school. You're not the only one who was in this boat!

[@donstravelsandrants.]

Thanks Kate. 👍😊

[@balmesh]

I was there some 50 years ago and it was wonderful. Two years ago we returned and it was different! Tourism is not always good!

[@INTUITIVENORSK2303]

IMPO, I think that tourism is Ok & fine & ought be welcomed, as it "adds" colour & flavour into any country & in this case, Ireland. It also & importantly, injects funds into the local economy, but for me, it's the "modernisation & urbanization" that's the real issue. I'm a real lover of history & old fashioned traditions, architecture, culture, etc;, so when such things start to dissipate &/or disappear, I find that truly sad. To lose some or much of one's traditions, or culture, or anything special from the past, is sad & once lost, is so often forever lost & then, many global regions just start to look so similar, rather than maintain their raw historical integrity/originality.

[@INTUITIVENORSK2303]

Btw, you were there as a tourist 50 years ago & then again, 2 years ago. Well, was that OK when "you" went there as a tourist??🤔

[@christopher1800]

@@INTUITIVENORSK2303 That's exactly the paradox. I often tell people that I will only visit Connemara outside the tourist season, thus adding to tourism outside the tourist season. lol Also, let's not forget that people living in Ireland and going on holiday to the west coast are 'tourists' just as well. Btw, I'm from the Netherlands, and I've visited Ireland 13 times if I counted correctly. ;)

[@katenoke1571]

I was 10 years old living in Galway 50 years ago, and trust me, it probably looked rosier from the outside than it did on the inside. I love it there now. Such a diverse population, an emphasis on sustainability, always the love of history, stories, music, politics. Great fresh food. Superb hiking and biking. And you can't beat the people

[@INTUITIVENORSK2303]

@@christopher1800 In ref to your comment, yes, I do understand what you mean & where you're coming from. In ref to your Dutch ancestry, that's wonderful to hear. I myself have some Dutch ancestry/roots, plus genetic connections from all over Europe & just like you, I too love to travel & I really love Ireland. My family have some Irish ancestry, so Ireland's always been very special to me. Peace✌

[@andrewmclachlan9701]

Thanks Don. Love your videos and your wise words.

[@donstravelsandrants.]

Thanks a million Andrew. Appreciated.👍😊

[@TheWrightLifeTravelChannel]

I think Ireland is the only country having worse weather than us this summer! I'm glad your getting a good day!

[@donstravelsandrants.]

We had a horrible July. Rain and more rain.😂🤣👍😊 🌧️☔

[@INTUITIVENORSK2303]

I should also add, the paintings, now now Don! lol I'd give them all top marks & if for anything, for simply trying! Yes indeed, I do think you're a tad too harsh Dear Don!🤣😂 I'm just glad that you've not seen my paintings!🤣🤣

[@donstravelsandrants.]

Maybe I am. 🤣

[@MarmeladeBerlin]

24:45 Meditation, my arse 😂😂😂 That's what any yoga teacher would say 😂 Thank you for taking us with you on your trips, greetings from Berlin

[@donstravelsandrants.]

Thanks a million for watching.👍😊🇮🇪🇩🇪

[@susana.2631]

I love your videos! And you are very open and honest to share your experience of why you don’t speak Irish. Thank you for that. Such a shame that happened to you and other innocent children. I hope that is gone for good. Please keep up the wonderful videos, I really enjoy them and look forward to them!! 🤗

[@donstravelsandrants.]

Thank you so much Susana. 👍😊

[@briankelly8152]

Love the West of Ireland sorry to hear about those horrid vile sadistic teachers you Had, sad excuse for humans,great video Don 💯🇮🇪👍

[@donstravelsandrants.]

Thanks Brian. The good news, is that those days are long gone. 👍😊🇮🇪🇦🇺🐨🦘

[@Laoise-M]

I hated school, full of bullies and lenient teachers in my day. Got top grade in Irish but can’t speak a word 😂

[@donstravelsandrants.]

Well done in the top grade in Irish. Glad it's all changed now. 👍😊

[@Laoise-M]

@@donstravelsandrants. cheers Don 😊. Keep up the good work with the channel. Love travelling Ireland with you👍

[@rosiemac56]

Don, I,m with you 100% on your rant. I think i was a year or two behind you in school, different school but same town. I will NEVER forgive the christian brothers or teachers of that era. I am almost ashamed i cant speak irish as it,s because these evil people.

[@donstravelsandrants.]

I don't hold any animosities towards them. I'm glad things have changed. My youngest niece and nephew go to an educate together school where they don't have to wear uniforms and can call their teachers by there first name. They don't go to school in fear, because there is mutual respect. 👍😊

[@Laoise-M]

@@donstravelsandrants. They introduced bullying guidelines after my day. Love the way Don described it now.