Ireland - The West Is The Best
6/4/2011 | 26m 51sVideo has Closed Captions
Joseph learns Irish secrets like how to draw a proper pint and spout a bit of Gaelic.
Joseph starts his Ireland adventure in the town of Shannon and then heads southwest to the Dingle Peninsula. Then he heads to the Puck Festival in Killorglin on the Ring of Kerry for some Irish merrymaking. Joseph also learns about the Irish emigration to America and hears the story of the Blasket Islanders, a modern-day Irish migration saga.
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Ireland - The West Is The Best
6/4/2011 | 26m 51sVideo has Closed Captions
Joseph starts his Ireland adventure in the town of Shannon and then heads southwest to the Dingle Peninsula. Then he heads to the Puck Festival in Killorglin on the Ring of Kerry for some Irish merrymaking. Joseph also learns about the Irish emigration to America and hears the story of the Blasket Islanders, a modern-day Irish migration saga.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> WELCOME TO "TRAVELSCOPE" WITH JOSEPH ROSENDO, WHERE EACH WEEK YOU JOIN US AS WE ACCEPT THE WORLD'S INVITATION TO VISIT.
>> YAHOO!
>> TODAY ON "TRAVELSCOPE," I HEAD TO SOUTHWEST IRELAND FOR FUN AND GAMES ON THE RING OF KERRY AND THE DINGLE PENINSULA.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY FRIENDS OF NCI] >> "TRAVELSCOPE" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES.
DK CITY, COUNTRY, AND DRIVING GUIDES FEATURE EVOCATIVE PHOTOS, 3-D MAPPING, AND ILLUSTRATIONS FOR KEY SITES AND TRAVEL ITINERARIES.
DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES-- THE GUIDES THAT SHOW YOU WHAT OTHERS ONLY TELL YOU.
AND ROSETTA STONE-- CHANGING THE WAY THE WORLD LEARNS LANGUAGES.
>> SOUTHWEST IRELAND IS CONSIDERED BY MANY THE MOST SCENIC PART OF IRELAND.
IT IS CERTAINLY THE MOST POPULAR.
THOUSANDS OF VISITORS A YEAR TAKE A DRIVING TOUR OF THE IVERAGH PENINSULA ALONG THE RING OF KERRY.
THE VILLAGE OF KILLARNEY IS A JUMPING-OFF POINT FOR THOSE HEADING OUT ON THE DRIVE AND THE ENTRANCE TO THE 25,000-ACRE KILLARNEY NATIONAL PARK.
IN THE PARK, THERE ARE HISTORIC LANDMARKS TO VISIT AND A HOST OF ACTIVITIES FROM FISHING, CANOEING AND TREKKING THROUGH IRELAND'S HIGHEST PEAKS TO TAKING A HORSE AND BUGGY RIDE THROUGH THE GAP OF DUNLOE.
I'M WITH GERRY HEALY AND PADDY, AND WE'RE ABOUT TO TAKE OFF AND EXPLORE THE AREA IN A VERY UNIQUE AND HISTORIC TYPE OF TRANSPORTATION.
WHAT'S THIS CALLED?
>> THIS IS CALLED A GOVERNOR'S CART OR A TUB TRAP.
>> AND SO THE WELL-TO-DO, THE GOVERNOR, WOULD BE TAKEN AROUND THE AREA?
>> EXACTLY, YEAH.
>> AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EXPLORING THE GAP FOR HOW LONG?
>> ABOUT 350 YEARS NOW.
>> AND THIS IS A GLACIATED VALLEY... >> GLACIATED VALLEY WITH SOME MOUNTAIN STREAMS, LAKES AND FANTASTIC SCENERY.
>> I KNOW THERE ARE A COUPLE OTHER HISTORIC ATTRACTIONS RIGHT HERE NEARBY, TOO.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
WE'VE A LOCAL TAVERN HERE JUST BESIDE US THAT'S KNOWN AS KATE KEARNEY'S COTTAGE, AND SHE USED TO STILL THE POITIN.
[POCHEEN] >> POITIN.
WHAT'S POITIN?
>> POITIN WOULD BE THE EQUIVALENT OF YOUR MOONSHINE IN THE STATES.
>> OH, SO SHE'D SELL IT TO PEOPLE AS THEY'D COME DOWN AND WARM THEM UP A BIT.
DO YOU HAVE A LITTLE POITIN IN THE CART HERE?
>> WELL, WE NORMALLY DON'T, BUT WE MIGHT ORGANIZE A DRAUGHT THIS MORNING FOR YOU EVEN THOUGH WE CAN DRINK AND DRIVE EVEN WITH ONE HORSEPOWER.
>> OK. WELL, LET'S TAKE OFF.
>> NO PROBLEM.
WHOA, NOW, PADDY.
>> HAVE PEOPLE EVER LIVED IN THIS GAP?
>> WELL, THERE'S ABOUT 10 OR 15 FAMILIES LIVING HERE IN THE GAP OF DUNLOE AT PRESENT.
MOST OF THEM MAKE THEIR LIVING FROM SHEEP AND FROM HORSE, TREKKING THROUGH THE GAP OF DUNLOE PASS.
>> IT'S A ROUGH AREA TO EKE A LIFE FROM, BUT I BET MORE PEOPLE USED TO LIVE HERE IN THE PAST.
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY, BUT SURE A LOT OF THEM EMIGRATED AT THE TIME OF THE POTATO FAMINE AND EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, SO, NEVER RETURNED AGAIN, UNFORTUNATELY.
>> YEAH.
>> NOW WE'RE APPROACHING THE FIRST LAKE OF THE GAP OF DUNLOE HERE... >> OK. >> ...WHICH IS KNOWN AS THE BLACK LAKE.
>> WHY IS IT CALLED THAT?
>> WELL, NUMBER ONE, IT'S A BOTTOMLESS LAKE.
>> OK. >> AND NUMBER 2, THE REFLECTION OF THE MOUNTAIN MAKES IT BLACK WITH THE PEATY SOIL.
>> OK. >> BUT IT ALSO IS AN INTERESTING LAKE, BECAUSE YOU CAN HAVE A GOOD SWIM IN IT FOR ARTHRITIS.
>> FOR ARTHRITIS.
>> YEAH, FOR YOUR BONES.
>> UH-HUH.
>> IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT GOING IN, YOU'LL DEFINITELY GET IT COMING OUT.
GO ON.
NOW WE HAVE A BRIDGE RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF US AS WELL WHICH IS KNOWN AS THE WISHING BRIDGE.
>> WHEN WE GET UP THERE, I THINK I'LL WISH THAT I COME BACK TO IRELAND.
>> YOU'LL BE ALWAYS WELCOME.
WE HAVE A LOCAL SONG HERE THAT WAS WRITTEN FOR ME CALLED "KERRY MERRY."
I'D LOVE TO SING IT FOR YOU.
>> I'D LOVE TO HEAR IT.
>> ♪ FOR TO SING SWEET KERRY MERRY IN THE SUMMERTIME I ROAM TO OLD KATE KEARNEY'S COTTAGE MY HOME AWAY FROM HOME NOW GIVE ME SWEET KILLARNEY AND MACGILLYCUDDY'S REEKS SOFTLY FROM OUR LAKESHORE THIS VOICE OF MAGIC SPEAKS TO THE BLESSED HILLS BY BRANDON AND THE VALE OF OLD TRALEE SURE THE GOLDEN HILLS OF KERRY ARE FOREVER CALLING ME ♪ >> THE BEAUTY, THE SONG, THE COMPANY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT MORE YOU NEED.
>> YOU NEED NO MORE.
>> [LAUGHS] FROM KATE KEARNEY'S COTTAGE, WHERE WE CAUGHT THE JAUNTING CART, IT'S ABOUT A 4 1/2-MILE DISTANCE TO ONE OF THE 3 KILLARNEY LAKES, THE MIDDLE ONE, AND FROM THERE YOU CAN CATCH A BOAT WHICH WILL TAKE YOU RIGHT INTO KILLARNEY TOWN.
NOW, YOU CAN DO THE DISTANCE BY BIKE, YOU CAN TAKE A JAUNTING CART, OR YOU CAN WALK.
IT'S PART OF THE 126-MILE KERRY WAY, WHICH GOES ALL THROUGHOUT THE RING OF KERRY.
>> ♪ TO OLD KATE KEARNEY'S COTTAGE MY HOME AWAY FROM HOME ♪ >> IRELAND OFFERS HOTEL AND RESTAURANT EXPERIENCES THAT RANGE FROM DOWN HOME TO 5-STAR.
AFTER COUNTING SHEEP IN COMFORT, THE NEXT DAY I TAKE TO THE HILLS ON THE RING OF KERRY FOR AN IRISH FARM HOLIDAY.
I'M WITH JOHN KISSANE FROM KISSANE MOUNTAIN SHEEP FARM, AND, JOHN, THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY HERE.
HOW MUCH OF THIS IS YOUR FARM?
>> I OWN 3,000 ACRES UP HERE.
I'M RUNNING 1,000 BREEDING SHEEP AND ABOUT 800 LAMBS AT THE MOMENT.
>> HOW IMPORTANT IS SHEEP FARMING TO IRELAND?
>> VERY IMPORTANT.
THE RECENT YEARS, BECAUSE INCOME WAS DROPPING, IT HAS GOT LESS, SO WE SOMETIMES HAVE TO DIVERSIFY INTO OTHER THINGS TO SURVIVE.
EVERY DAY I WOULD BE WORKING SHEEP UP ON THE MOUNTAINS AND DOWN IN THE VALLEYS.
ONLY FOR THE DOGS, IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO DO IT, SO MY DOGS ARE A VERY IMPORTANT PART.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> THIS IS NAN, THE 6-YEAR-OLD COLLIE.
GET OUT.
AWAY, NAN.
AWAY, NAN!
AWAY!
SEE, NOW SHE'S SWINGING AROUND TO THE RIGHT OF THEM.
>> YES, YES.
>> AWAY, NAN.
AWAY.
AWAY, AWAY!
COME BY, NAN!
TO BRING HER BACK BEHIND THEM AGAIN.
AWAY, NAN!
AWAY, NAN!
AWAY, NAN!
[WHISTLES] SEE, THERE'S ANOTHER DOG HAVE COME TO HELP US.
JANE.
JANE, COME RIGHT.
[WHISTLES] BACK, JANE.
>> SO, EACH DOG HAS ITS OWN COMMANDS.
>> YEAH.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE 2 COMMANDS, THAT WE CAN WORK THEM.
BRING THEM IN, NAN!
COME LEFT.
JANEY, THAT'LL DO.
SIT.
YOU CAN SEE IT MAKES LIFE VERY EASY FOR ME, THE DOGS.
>> [LAUGHS] IT DOES.
IT'S LIKE REMOTE CONTROL SHEEP MOVEMENT.
THE DOGS HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB GETTING THEM UP HERE, SO NOW WE CAN GO SHEAR ONE.
>> WE SURE CAN, YEAH.
>> HOW MUCH WOOL CAN YOU GET FROM A SHEEP?
>> ABOUT 2 POUNDS, USUALLY.
SO ONE OF THESE FLEECES WE'RE GETTING OFF AT THE MOMENT IS PROBABLY WORTH ABOUT 25 CENTS, BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT FOR THEIR WELFARE.
THE FLIES WOULD LAY EGGS ON THEM.
>> REALLY?
>> SO THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE TO GET THE WOOL OFF.
>> HOW MANY TIMES A YEAR CAN YOU SHEAR THEM?
>> ONCE.
>> ONCE?
>> ONCE A YEAR, YEAH.
>> HOW MANY GENERATIONS OF YOUR FAMILY HAVE OWNED THE SHEEP FARM?
>> I'M 5 GENERATIONS, AND MY LITTLE SON IS 6.
>> AND THIS IS WORTH ABOUT HOW MUCH, YOU SAID?
>> IT'S ABOUT MAYBE 25, 30 CENT THOSE DAYS.
IT'S NOT WORTH MUCH.
>> WE'RE OUT OF THE SHEEP FARM AND INTO THE STORE.
WE'RE AT AVOCA AT MOLL'S GAP ON THE RING OF KERRY, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WOOLEN GOODS ARE STILL VERY POPULAR AND VERY IMPORTANT HERE IN IRELAND.
WE'RE GONNA GO INTO KENMARE AND DO A LITTLE BIT MORE, WELL, AT LEAST WINDOW SHOPPING.
MUCH OF THE TRAFFIC YOU'LL FIND IN KENMARE ARE PEOPLE EITHER VISITING OR PASSING THROUGH ON THE RING OF KERRY.
A TOWN OF ABOUT 2500 PEOPLE, IT'S NOTED FOR ITS ART GALLERIES, HANDMADE LACE... GOOD RESTAURANTS AND HISTORIC PUBS.
BESIDES WOOL, THE OTHER ICONIC IRISH PRODUCT IS A PROPERLY POURED PERFECT PINT OF GUINNESS.
IN ORDER FOR A GUINNESS TO DELIVER ITS PEAK OF PLEASURE, IT REQUIRES A 2-MINUTE PAUSE BETWEEN POURINGS TO REACH LIQUID PERFECTION.
FROM KENMARE, IT'S A SHORT HOP TO KILLORGLIN AND PUCK FAIR.
FOR HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF YEARS, EVERY AUGUST 10th, 11th, AND 12th, THE SLEEPY VILLAGE OF KILLORGLIN, COUNTY KERRY, BECOMES THE CENTER OF A WILD AND BOISTEROUS CELEBRATION THAT INCLUDES MUSIC, FOOD, DANCE, DRINK, AND THE KING OF ALL THESE FESTIVITIES IS A GOAT.
I'M WITH DECLAN MANGAN, AND HE IS THE CHAIRMAN HERE OF THE PUCK FAIR, WHICH HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE A WHILE.
>> A HELL OF A LONG TIME.
TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF PUCK FAIR 2010.
>> UH-HUH.
>> THE FIRST DAY IS TRADITIONALLY THE HORSE FAIR, AND PEOPLE COME WITH THEIR ANIMALS--HORSES, DONKEYS.
THERE'S GOATS, CHICKENS, HENS, ALL KINDS OF ANIMALS.
PEOPLE LOOK AT A HORSE, AND IF THEY LIKE IT, THEY MAKE AN OFFER.
>> BUT THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF 3 DAYS OF FESTIVITIES, AND THERE'LL BE MUSIC AND...?
>> THERE'S CONCERTS, IRISH MUSIC, TRADITIONAL MUSIC.
YOU CAN LEARN HOW TO DO IRISH DANCING.
>> PERFECT.
>> A WILD MOUNTAIN GOAT WAS CAPTURED IN THE MOUNTAIN A FEW DAYS AGO, AND AT ABOUT 6:00 THIS EVENING, A CROWN WILL BE PUT ON HIS HEAD BY A QUEEN OF PUCK FAIR, WHO'S A 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL.
THE ONLY PLACE IN THE WORLD WHERE THE GOAT ACTS THE KING AND THE PEOPLE ACT THE GOAT.
>> [LAUGHS] >> THAT HARNESS IS 12.50.
WE'RE DOING IT AT 7.50 A CENT.
>> JUST 5 EUROS.
THAT'S NOT BAD, HUH?
>> PRETTY GOOD.
>> IT'S GOT LEATHER.
HOW WOULD YOU USE THAT?
>> WELL, YOU WANT TO BE IN THE RACING BUSINESS NOW TO USE THAT.
YOU WANT TO BE PASSING THE POST, GIVE THEM A DART.
>> [LAUGHS] WELL, I KNOW HORSES TAKE A LOT OF CARE, AND THEY CAN BE EXPENSIVE.
IT CAN BE AN EXPENSIVE HOBBY.
>> THEY CAN BE EXPENSIVE, BUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LIKE THEM, YOU KNOW, IT'S-- EVERYBODY IS FOOLISH SOMEWHERE.
>> YEAH.
[LAUGHS] THE HORSE FAIR AT THE PUCK FAIR HAS BROUGHT US HERE TO BALLYCLEAVE.
[BALLINTCLEAVE] WE'RE AT THE RED FOX INN.
I'M WITH JOHN MULVIHILL.
NOW, EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT IRISH COFFEE, BUT I DON'T THEY'RE GOING TO KNOW IT LIKE WE'RE GOING TO TELL THEM ABOUT IT.
LET'S START.
WHAT IS OUR INGREDIENTS HERE?
>> RIGHT.
WHAT WE NEED IS A GOOD IRISH WHISKY.
>> OK. ARE THERE ANY BAD ONES?
>> THERE ARE NO BAD ONES, JOSEPH.
THAT IS TRUE.
SO, WHAT WE HAVE IS A QUART OF GILL MEASURE, WHICH IS THE LEGALIZED MEASURE IN IRELAND.
WE POUR IT INTO A PRE-WARMED GLASS.
>> OK. >> AND THEN WHAT WE DO IS WE ADD 2 TEASPOONS OF BROWN SUGAR.
THEN WE HAVE PERCOLATED COFFEE.
WITHIN AN INCH FROM THE TOP.
>> THEY DON'T MAKE ANY COFFEE IN IRELAND, DO THEY?
>> WELL, THEY DON'T, BUT THEY'RE WORKING ON IT, JOSEPH.
YES, INDEED.
EVERYTHING IS CHANGING HERE WITH IRELAND.
GIVE IT A GOOD LIVELY STIRRING.
THIS MAKES SURE THAT ALL THE SUGAR IS MELTED DOWN THROUGH THE COFFEE.
THIS IS FRESH POURING CREAM.
OVER THE BACK OF A SPOON TO MAKE CERTAIN AND SURE-- >> NOW, WHY DO YOU POUR IT OVER THE BACK OF A SPOON?
>> WELL, THE IDEA OF THAT, OF COURSE, IS TO INTRODUCE THE COFFEE WITH THE CREAM.
IT'S A MARRIAGE, IF YOU LIKE.
>> AHA.
BUT TO KEEP THE CREAM SEPARATED FROM THE COFFEE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> AH.
>> WHEREAS IF THE CREAM WERE TO SINK INTO THE COFFEE AND THE WHISKY, THE TASTE WOULD BE DILUTED, AND YOU WOULD NOT BE GETTING THE PURITY OF THE WHISKY.
WE HAVE TO SAY "SLAINTE."
>> SLAINTE.
["SLAWNTCHA"] >> IT'S ALL A CELEBRATION OF THE GOOD THINGS OF IRELAND-- THE DANCING, THE SINGING, THE IRISH COFFEE.
WE MIGHT LACK FOR A LITTLE SUNSHINE, BUT WE HAVE IT INSIDE, AND WE HAVE IT HERE TODAY.
[TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC PLAYING] >> HOO HOO!
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] >> THIS INSTRUMENT IS CALLED THE BODHRAN.
[BOW-RON] YOU HOLD IT LIKE A PEN AS IF YOU WERE WRITING A CHECK FOR ME.
>> OR YOUR WILL, EVEN, RIGHT?
>> OR MY WILL.
>> SO YOU BRING IT UP HALFWAY.
>> UH-HUH.
>> SO YOU BEND YOUR WRIST TO YOU.
SO I'LL JUST TAKE IT FROM THERE.
HOLD IT LIKE A PEN.
BRING IT UP HALFWAY.
BEND YOUR WRIST TO YOU.
AND YOU'LL GET THIS ACTION.
NOW, THAT'S ONLY ONE SIDE OF THE STICK.
BUT, REALLY, THE FUN HAPPENS WHEN YOU KIND OF BRING IN THE OTHER SIDE.
SO... THAT'S THE WAY YOU HAVE THE HUNDRED DRUMMERS.
>> [LAUGHS] >> AND THERE'S LIKE KIND OF RIM SHOTS.
AND ALL THIS KIND OF SHOWING OFF, RIGHT?
WHICH I DO FROM TIME TO TIME.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> AND YOU ALSO GET TONAL CHARACTERISTICS BY MANIPULATING THE BACK OF THE SKIN, SO YOU GO... >> WHAT I'M GOING TO TEACH YOU IS YOUR FIRST WORD IN GAELIC, MAYBE, AND IT'S THE WORD FOR "ELBOW."
>> AND WHAT IS THAT?
>> THE WORD FOR ELBOW IS UILLE.
>> UILLE.
["ILLA"] >> AND UILLE--THESE ARE CALLED UILLEANN PIPES, NOT BAGPIPES.
UILLEANN PIPES.
["ILLEN"] >> OH, UILLEANN PIPES.
>> BECAUSE IT WORKS FROM THE ELBOW.
♪ GOOD, EH?
>> BEAUTIFUL.
THAT IS AMAZING.
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING I SHOULD HAVE BEEN DANCING TO.
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
>> DO YOU THINK YOUR DANCERS CAN TEACH ME A COUPLE OF IRISH STEPS?
>> WE HAVE SOMETHING YOU WON'T OFTEN SEE WITH THE DANCER HERE NOW.
♪ HOP HOP!
OH!
HEY!
HEY!
THAT'S IT.
WHOO!
HEY!
[APPLAUSE] >> ♪ NOW I MET HER ON THE ROAD TO PUCK WHEN I WAS 22... ♪ >> MORE THAN 60,000 PEOPLE ATTEND PUCK FAIR.
I RETURN TO KILLORGLIN TO JOIN THE CELEBRANTS GATHERING FOR THE CORONATION.
>> ♪ AS YOU STROLL THE STREETS WITH YOUR... ♪ >> FRANK JOY IS THE GOAT CATCHER FOR THE PUCK FAIR.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN CATCHING GOATS, FRANK?
>> 20 YEARS NOW.
>> 20 YEARS?
>> 20 YEARS, YES.
20 YEARS FOR THE FESTIVAL.
>> DOES HE HAVE TO HAVE ANY KIND OF REQUIREMENTS TO BE THE-- >> HE DOES, YES.
HE HAVE TO HAVE A GOOD COAT OF FUR.
GOOD SET OF HORNS IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND THE HEAD.
>> SO HE'S GOTTA LOOK GOOD, TOO.
>> HE'S GOT TO LOOK GOOD, YEAH.
>> WELL, HE'S GOING TO BE KING.
>> HE'S GOING TO BE KING.
>> RIGHT NOW HE'S JUST A REGULAR GOAT.
>> A REGULAR GOAT.
IN AN HOUR'S TIME, HE'LL BE IRELAND'S ONLY REIGNING KING.
[BOTH LAUGH] [IRISH MUSIC PLAYING] >> WHILE THERE IS A MARKET OF ARTS AND CRAFTS AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS, THE REAL JOY OF THE PUCK FESTIVAL IS IN THE FUN YOU CAN HAVE IN THE STREETS AND IN THE LOCAL PUBS.
[MUSIC PLAYING, INDISTINCT CHATTER] ARE THEY DANCING TRADITIONAL DANCING?
>> OH--OH, TRADITIONAL?
THESE ARE MY DAUGHTERS.
>> [CHEERS] SINCE ITS PAGAN BEGINNINGS, THE SPIRITED FOLK OF KILLORGLIN HAVE FOLLOWED HER MAJESTY AND HER PUCK TO HIS HONORED THRONE.
IT'S A CENTURIES-OLD TRADITION THAT I GLADLY CELEBRATE.
>> NOBLE FRIENDS, KING OF PUCK 2010.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] [MAN SINGING IN GAELIC] [CROWD CLAPPING, SINGING IN GAELIC] >> ♪ SO, LADS IF YOU HAVEN'T A CARE FOLLOW US AND HEAD TO PUCK FAIR THERE'S WOMEN AND DANCING AND SONG ON THE STREET MORNING AND NIGHT AND IT SOUNDED SO SWEET ♪ [CHEERING AND WHISTLING] >> FROM PUCK FAIR, I TRAVEL ONTO THE SCENIC DINGLE PENINSULA THROUGH CONOR PASS, AT 1500 FEET, THE HIGHEST PASS IN IRELAND, WITHIN VIEW OF MOUNT BRANDON, ONE OF IRELAND'S HIGHEST PEAKS, AND JOIN THE FESTIVITIES AT THE 112th ANNUAL DINGLE RACES.
WE'RE HERE AT THE DINGLE RACES, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MAJOR EVENTS HERE ON THE DINGLE PENINSULA.
TAKES PLACE EVERY YEAR.
3 DAYS.
THERE'S FOODS, THERE'S CRAFTS, THERE'S DRINK, OF COURSE, AND THERE'S RACING.
>> ANYONE AT ALL FOR A LITTLE BET ON THE DERBY!
3 TO 1 FOR...[INDISTINCT] COME ON, BOYS!
NO BET TOO SMALL.
>> ANDPPARENTLY NO GAMBLER TOO SMALL, EITHER.
YOU GOT ANY TIPS FOR ME?
>> I THOUGHT ORDINARY MAN WOULD GO RUN WELL.
HE'S RUN WELL ALL YEAR.
>> I'LL GO WITH ORDINARY MAN.
>> ORDINARY MAN.
>> 2 EURO.
>> 2 EURO.
SO YOUR BET IS 10 EURO TO 2, ORDINARY MAN DOWN FOR TICKET 113.
>> WHAT?
>> YOU'LL BE THE FIRST BET ON ORDINARY MAN.
I'LL WRITE IN... >> I'M THE FIRST BET?
>> ON ORDINARY MAN.
I HAVE HAD A FEW BETS, LIKE ON-- IF HE WINS, YOU CAN BE FORCED INTO COLLECT.
>> THIS IS A REALLY FUN EVENT, BECAUSE IT ISN'T THE ASCOT AT ALL.
IT'S JUST REALLY EVERYBODY HAVING A GOOD TIME, AS THE IRISH LOVE TO DO.
COME ON.
>> [SHOUTS, INDISTINCT] COME ON, COME ON, COME ON!
[SHOUTS, INDISTINCT] [MAN SPEAKING OVER LOUDSPEAKER, INDISTINCT] >> I'M WITH MIKE SAYERS, WHO IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DINGLE RACES.
HOW LONG HAVE THESE RACES BEEN GOING ON, MIKE?
>> WELL, IN THIS PARTICULAR FIELD, THEY'RE THERE SINCE 1896.
>> 1896?
>> 1896.
NOW, I WASN'T THERE ALL THE TIME.
>> NO, YOU WEREN'T.
>> I WASN'T.
NO, NO.
>> WELL, I HAVE A BET ON THE DERBY.
>> YOU HAVE?
>> YEAH.
2 EUROS.
>> WELL, YOU WON'T BE GAINING MUCH NOW, I TELL YOU.
>> BUT I WON'T BE LOSING MUCH, EITHER.
[MAN SPEAKING OVER LOUDSPEAKER, INDISTINCT] HERE THEY COME.
WHOA!
THERE THEY GO!
I THINK MY HORSES ARE WAY IN THE BACK.
THEY HAVEN'T MENTIONED THEIR NAME ONCE.
DID YOU HAVE FUN AT THE RACES?
>> YES, YES.
>> DID YOU WIN A LOT OF MONEY?
>> NO, NO.
>> MY DAD GAVE HER A TIP.
WASN'T A GOOD TIP.
>> NO?
>> NO.
>> I GOT A LOT OF GOOD TIPS THAT WEREN'T GOOD TIPS, EITHER.
>> DROWNING OUR SORROWS HERE NOW AT THE PUB.
>> DROWNING YOUR SORROWS.
THIS IS A WONDERFUL EVENT FOR US TO COME TO.
>> OH, IT'S FANTASTIC.
IT'S GREAT CRACK HERE.
>> IT'S VERY NICE AND LOVELY AND GOOD CRACK.
GOOD CRACK HERE, WHICH MEANS "HAVING A GOOD TIME."
>> ABSOLUTELY, YEAH.
>> EVERYBODY WAS REALLY LOVELY AND SWEET, AND I'D COME BACK.
>> SLAINTE.
>> SLANJA.
>> SLAINTE.
>> SLANJA!
SLANJA.
DINGLE IS SAID TO HAVE MORE MUSIC PUBS THAN ANY OTHER TOWN IN IRELAND.
YOU'RE SURE TO FIND TRADITIONAL MUSIC, FRIENDLY FOLKS, AND LOTS OF GOOD CRACK-- GOOD TIMES.
[CHEERS] NOW, WHAT MAKES A REAL, GENUINE IRISH PUB?
>> WELL, I SUPPOSE 2 THINGS-- IT'S THE CHARACTER AND THE CLIENTELE.
>> CLIENTELE.
>> THE ATMOSPHERE.
IF THEY ENJOY THEIR DRINKS, ENJOY THE MUSIC, WHAT MORE WOULD YOU WANT?
>> AND IT MAKES IT A WELCOMING PLACE FOR VISITORS LIKE ME.
>> VISITORS AND LOCALS ALIKE.
WE ALL SHARE THE SAME IDEAS.
♪ I SIT AND MUSE ABOUT MY CHILDHOOD AND THOSE HAPPY HOURS I SPENT NEAR DINGLE BAY ♪ [APPLAUSE AND WHISTLING] >> THIS SCENE HERE ON THE DINGLE PENINSULA AT DUNQUIN WITH THE BLASKET ISLANDS IN THE BACKGROUND IS VERY ILLUSTRATIVE OF ONE OF THE MAJOR PLEASURES OF VISITING AND TOURING THE DINGLE PENINSULA.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE SEA.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CULTURE.
PEOPLE IN THIS AREA HAVE BEEN SCHOOLED IN THE GAELIC LANGUAGE, SPEAK PREDOMINANTLY IRISH, AND CONTINUE TO LIVE THE WAY THEY HAVE FOR 300 YEARS.
OF COURSE, TOURING THE DINGLE PENINSULA IS WEATHER-DEPENDENT, BUT DON'T WORRY.
IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE WEATHER, WAIT 10 MINUTES.
IT'S SURE TO CHANGE.
THEY CALL THE DINGLE PENINSULA THE LAST PARISH BEFORE NORTH AMERICA, WHICH DESCRIBES ITS WESTWARD REACH INTO THE ATLANTIC AND THE LEGACY OF IMMIGRATION.
A VISIT TO THE BLASKET ISLAND CENTRE AND GREAT BLASKET ISLAND OFFERS AN HISTORIC PERSPECTIVE ON THE IRISH PEOPLE'S STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE AND PRESERVE THEIR CULTURE.
>> [SPEAKS GAELIC] YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO THE GREAT BLASKET ISLAND HERE IN WEST KERRY.
>> THAT WAS IRISH, WAS IT NOT?
>> THAT WAS IRISH, YEAH.
>> GAELIC?
>> GAELIC OR IRISH.
ONE AND THE SAME.
>> AND IT'S ALSO THE LANGUAGE THAT IS SPOKEN HERE ON THE DINGLE PENINSULA.
>> ABSOLUTELY, YES.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE HAVE LIVED ON THE BLASKETS FOR HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF YEARS.
WHY DID THEY COME HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE?
>> WELL, JOE, YOU'RE ACTUALLY IN THE VILLAGE NOW.
YOU'RE IN THE CENTER OF THE VILLAGE, AND THEN BEHIND YOU IS ACTUALLY THE POST OFFICE.
WE KNOW PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LIVING ON THIS ISLAND FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS.
WE'VE GOT RECORDS OF THAT, AND THEY WOULD HAVE LEFT THE MAINLANDS AND COME TO THE ISLAND AS A PLACE OF REFUGE, TO ESCAPE WHATEVER TROUBLES WERE ON THE MAINLAND AT THE TIME.
MOST OF THE LAND IN IRELAND WAS OWNED BY LANDLORDS, AND THE SAME WITH THIS ISLAND.
BUT THAT LANDLORD DIDN'T REALLY PAY TOO MUCH ATTENTION TO THIS ISLAND, SO THE ISLANDERS WERE LEFT TO THEIR OWN DEVICES.
>> A VISITOR TO THE DINGLE PENINSULA, WHY SHOULD THEY COME HERE?
WHAT'S HERE?
WHAT DOES THIS TELL THEM?
>> I SUPPOSE THIS ISLAND HAS A UNIQUE STORY.
IT'S VERY MUCH THE LEGACY THAT THEY LEFT AFTER THEM AS WELL-- THE WEALTH OF LITERATURE-- OVER 40 BOOKS NOW WRITTEN ABOUT THE BLASKET ISLANDS, AND MANY OF THEM WRITTEN BY THE ISLANDERS THEMSELVES IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE OF IRISH-- AND ALSO THE MUSIC THAT THEY LEFT, WHICH CAN STILL BE HEARD TODAY IN THE DINGLE PENINSULA.
>> WHY DO YOU THINK THAT WEALTH OF LITERATURE AND MUSIC CAME OUT OF SUCH A SMALL COMMUNITY?
>> I SUPPOSE IT WAS FROM THEIR OWN TRADITIONS OF STORYTELLING, BECAUSE THERE WAS A NATIONAL SCHOOL ON THE ISLAND, WHERE THEY WERE ABLE TO LEARN HOW TO READ AND WRITE.
THEY BEGAN TO PUT DOWN MANY OF THOSE STORIES, TRADITIONS ONTO PAPER, AND THESE BOOKS HAVE BEEN TRANSLATED INTO MANY OTHER LANGUAGES AND HAVE TRAVELED THE GLOBE AND ENCOURAGED MANY PEOPLE TO COME HERE.
AND WE ARE VERY SELF-AWARE THAT WHAT WE HAVE IS SOMETHING UNIQUE, AND WE'D LIKE TO PRESERVE THAT BUT ALSO TO SHARE IT WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD AS WELL.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ONE OF THE WRITERS, MUIRIS O SUILLEABHAIN, SAID THAT ON THIS ISLAND HERE, WHEN YOU LOOK DOWN ON THE VILLAGE, THAT YOU CAN SEE THEIR WHOLE WORLD.
THEIR WHOLE WORLD WAS HERE.
FROM THE PIER THERE, THEY WOULD GO OUT TO FISH.
OVER HERE YOU'VE GOT THE BEACH, WHERE THEY WOULD GO DOWN AND GATHER SEAWEED TO BRING IT UP TO THE FIELDS AND USE AS A FERTILIZER.
>> YOU TALKED ABOUT WHAT THIS GIVES PEOPLE WHO COME HERE AND VISIT.
THEY LEARN ABOUT THE LITERATURE.
THEY SEE THE GREAT BEAUTY.
THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A PLACE WHERE CULTURE HAS BEEN PRESERVED.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IT SAYS ABOUT THE IRISH CHARACTER?
>> I SUPPOSE THAT SHOWS THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE PEOPLE, THAT THEY HAD TO COME HERE, MAKE A LIVING FOR THEMSELVES, BUT ONCE THEY SAW A CHANCE TO MAKE AN EVEN BETTER LIFE FOR THEMSELVES, AND THEY SAW THAT THERE WAS OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, THEY TOOK THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU FOR INTRODUCING ME TO THE PEOPLE THAT LIVED HERE AND ILLUSTRATING SOMETHING ABSOLUTELY, TOTALLY TRUE ABOUT THE IRISH PEOPLE.
>> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.
THANKS A MILLION.
>> HOW DO YOU SAY THANK YOU?
>> GO RAIBH MAITH AGAT.
[GUH REV MAH A-GUT] >> SAY THAT AGAIN FOR ME?
>> GO RAIBH MAITH AGAT.
>> "GO REV MA HAGUT."
>> PERFECT.
WELL DONE.
>> GO RAIBH MAITH AGAT.
>> TA FAILTE ROMHAT.
[TA FAWLCHA ROW-UT] >> PEOPLE HAVE LIVED IN IRELAND FOR MORE THAN 6,000 YEARS, AND YET THE IRISH REPUBLIC IS LESS THAN 100 YEARS OLD.
TO FINALLY HAVE A FREE AND SOVEREIGN COUNTRY, THE IRISH HAVE OVERCOME INNUMERABLE OBSTACLES.
FOREIGN OCCUPATIONS, RELIGIOUS AND CIVIL WARS, FAMINE AND EMIGRATION, AND COUNTLESS ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS.
AND YET THROUGH IT ALL, THE IRISH PERSIST TO PERSEVERE.
THEY CLING TO TRADITIONS THAT BEGAN IN THE MISTS OF TIME.
THROUGH THEIR MUSIC, SONGS, DANCES, LITERATURE, AND FESTIVALS, THEY EXPRESS THEIR INTRINSIC LOVE OF LIFE AND KEEP THEIR CULTURE ALIVE.
AND IF, AS WE HAVE DONE, YOU SHARE IN THEIR AWE OF THIS BEAUTIFUL EMERALD ISLE, RECOGNIZE GOOD CRACK-- A GOOD TIME--WHEN YOU FEEL IT, AND GLADLY JOIN IN THEIR CELEBRATION, THEY WILL REWARD YOU WITH MORE THAN A WARM WELCOME.
THEIR IRISH EYES WILL SHINE WITH APPRECIATION, THEIR GRATITUDE WILL TOUCH YOUR HEART, AND YOU WILL HAVE THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE.
TILL NEXT TIME, THIS IS JOSEPH ROSENDO REMINDING YOU OF THE WORDS OF MARK TWAIN-- "TRAVEL IS FATAL TO PREJUDICE, BIGOTRY, AND NARROW-MINDEDNESS."
HAPPY TRAVELING.
>> "TRAVELSCOPE" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES.
DK CITY, COUNTRY, AND DRIVING GUIDES FEATURE EVOCATIVE PHOTOS, 3-D MAPPING, AND ILLUSTRATIONS FOR KEY SITES AND TRAVEL ITINERARIES.
DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES-- THE GUIDES THAT SHOW YOU WHAT OTHERS ONLY TELL YOU.
AND ROSETTA STONE-- CHANGING THE WAY THE WORLD LEARNS LANGUAGES.
FOR A DVD OF TODAY'S SHOW OR ANY OF JOSEPH'S "TRAVELSCOPE" ADVENTURES, CALL 888-876-3399 OR ORDER ONLINE AT TRAVELSCOPE.NET.
YOU CAN ALSO E-MAIL US AT TV@TRAVELSCOPE.NET OR WRITE US AT THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.
>> NOW THAT WE'VE SHARED FUN AND GAMES IN IRELAND, LEARN MORE AT TRAVELSCOPE.NET, WHERE YOU CAN FOLLOW MY ADVENTURES THROUGH MY E-MAGAZINE, BLOG, AND PODCASTS.
KEEP IN TOUCH.
888-876-3399 OR TV@TRAVELSCOPE.NET.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY FRIENDS OF NCI] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--] >> WHAT WE NEED IS A GOOD IRISH WHISKY.
>> ARE THERE ANY BAD ONES?
>> THERE ARE NO BAD ONES, JOSEPH.
THAT IS TRUE.
SO WHAT WE HAVE IS A QUART OF GILL MEASURE... >> THEY CAN BE EXPENSIVE, BUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LIKE THEM, YOU KNOW, IT'S-- EVERYBODY IS FOOLISH SOMEWHERE.
>> YEAH.
[LAUGHS] >> YOU'LL BE THE FIRST BET ON ORDINARY MAN.
>> OK.
I'M THE FIRST BET?
>> ON ORDINARY MAN.
I HAVE HAD A FEW BETS, LIKE, ON DIFFERENT HORSES.
>> AWAY, NAN!
AWAY, NAN!
>> HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT, JOSEPH.
>> I CERTAINLY DID.
THANK YOU, GERRY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH INDEED.
>> THANK YOU, PADDY.
HOW MANY GUINNESSES CAN YOU DRINK?
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