Seán Ó Fearghail
This is Seán Ó Fearghail, secretary of Na Cnocadóirí, and our guide for the hill walk on 30 August 2025. Seán spent his working life as an engineer and then as a lecturer in engineering and he is also a member of Gréasán Gaeilge na hEarnála Poiblí.
When did you become interested in hill walking?
In 1970 I started to go out camping in the hills with family members and then, in the mid-70s, I began hiking in the mountains with some friends, and that became a regular occurrence (every two weeks or so) with a club in 1981.
How long have you been a member of Na Cnocadóirí?
Na Cnocadóirí went on the very first walk in September 2003. I was on that walk and I’ve been with them ever since.
What inspired you to start this club?
At the time two or three of us were walking with another club and we all agreed that it would be great to be able to the same thing through Irish. It wasn’t that our Irish was very fluent at the time, but it gave us a chance to practice speaking Irish and improve our fluency. We didn’t have many other opportunities to speak Irish in Dublin at the time (as we saw it!)
Where did you learn your Irish?
At school! At regular English-speaking schools. But I attended a few courses with Oideas Gael and Gaelchultúr and I practiced a lot from 2003 onwards.
What is the mission or main goal of Na Cnocadóirí?
The Constitution of the Club states two main goals – to promote hill walking and to promote the Irish language. The most important thing is to give everyone, from beginners to fluent speakers, an opportunity to speak the language outside the classroom while doing something else (walking in this case) without having to think about the language.
How often do Na Cnocadóirí go out hiking?
There is a hike every second Sunday; an easy one near the city every Thursday evening from April until the end of August; a relatively easy hike one Wednesday a month; and a social walk one Sunday a month. We sometimes have other walks if the demand is there.
In your opinion, what is so special about hiking?
In the mountains you are so far from everyday life. It’s a whole other world up in the there. You have a view of the land if you’re lucky and it’s a clear day and there are no clouds or fog. It can be difficult, especially in bad weather, but then when you’ve finished the walk, you feel like you’ve really accomplished something worthwhile. The exercise is great and very different to training in the gym!
Why should new members take part in this hike with Gréasán Gaeilge na hEarnála Poiblí?
It’s an opportunity to see the city from a different perspective, from the hilltop rather than being in the centre of it. You’ll get to breathe in the fresh mountain air while surrounded by wild heather. We might even see some birds, unless we scare them off! But more importantly, there is no better opportunity to meet and talk to other people, to spend a few hours in their company and walk the countryside with them. After the walk the conversation often continues over a cup of coffee - there is a coffee stand near the car park.
What advice would you give to people heading out on their first hike?
I’ll start off with the practical things! Make sure you have a raincoat (even if it’s sunny at the start of the walk, don’t forget, we are in Ireland!) and a spare jumper as it gets colder as you climb higher. Make sure you’re wearing sturdy shoes or boots, as the terrain could be wet, slippery or muddy in places (although we will mostly keep to the paths). Also, bring a small lunch – sandwiches, fruit, salad, pasta or whatever you like. And don’t forget your water – bring a half-litre or litre.
Be prepared to be tired after the walk and be happy with that! Everyone is tired after a day up in the hills.
Be patient – sometimes you will have to wait for people, help others or just take a break.
What's the best walk you've done with Na Cnocadóirí so far?
It was the trip from Chamonix to Zermatt in the Swiss Alps, as we travelled from hostel to hostel way up in the mountains.
What benefit will people get from being a member of Na Cnocadóirí?
As with any walking club, we have guides who will escort members safely across the mountains, to places they wouldn’t venture if walking alone. They would also become members of Mountaineering Ireland that supports clubs like ours and provides insurance for the members. The only difference between Na Cnocadóirí and other walking clubs is that we do it all through Irish.
Did anything strange or funny ever happen to you while hiking with the club?
Every few years we organise a trip abroad. Two years ago we went on a walking trip to the south of Spain and it was so interesting to see other people looking in our direction. We know that people are often curious about the language we speak, one they have likely never heard before. Sometimes they will come up and question us and are often surprised to hear there is such a language as Gaeilge.
Does the club ever organise walks outside the Dublin/Wicklow area?
We are based in Dublin but a few times a year we take a weekend trip to another mountain range and every few years we organise a trip abroad.
What do Na Cnocadóirí prefer after a walk: a cup of tea, a pint, or a comfy bed?
Immediately after a walk we go to a pub or cafe in the area. Normally we have tea or coffee while we chit chat about life and everyday things