As a 71 year old Dominican friar / priest on sabbatical I
would like to express my overall experience coming to Díseart from the
USA for the Spring 2005.
Before choosing Díseart I had the
opportunity to look at various programmes and a few 'priest / religious'
programmes both in the States and abroad. I was fortunate to choose
Díseart.
Díseart was prompt in replying to my initial
search. E-mail contact and brochures were sent to me laying out their
curricula. My interest was in Celtic spirituality, but Díseart offered
even more in terms of Early Irish Literature, Archaeology, Irish Language, and
Spirituality.
The time frame of 4 months was ideal for me. At
Díseart I was engaged in serious study along with college students who
were studying for credit towards a degree.
This was not a casual
programme as papers were due, field trips presented, and exams given. I had the
added privilege of having Msgr. Padraig O'Fiannachta as my mentor in order to
produce, under his supervision, an extended essay on early Irish monasticism
and its missionary outreach.
The staff at Díseart could not have
been kinder. Not only was typical Irish hospitality shown in the daily offering
of tea and coffee, but the added provision of my own private office was
afforded me.
My accommodation at Dingle Marine Cottages was excellent
and more than I had expected. I had a 3 bedroom, two-story cottage to myself,
approximately ¾ of a mile from school.
The extra bedroom space
meant that I could invite visitors to come to visit me. I had visitors twice
from England, twice from the USA, not to mention 3 or 4 visitors from
Ireland.
As for finances I had budgeted 260 Euro each week for food.
However, I found that bringing my lunch to school I could save, so that my food
bill per week was close to 200 Euro.
I would highly recommend
Díseart for anyone, lay or cleric, who wishes to do a sabbatical in
Irish Studies.
The language, literature, archaeology, plus the private
library of Msgr O'Fiannachta served to fortify my ongoing studies in Celtic
spirituality and greatly enhanced it.
Do consider it for your
sabbatical in Irish studies at Díseart on the Dingle
peninsula.
Bede Jagoe O.P. - April 2005 - Díseart -
Dingle
