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Dún Chíomháin

Dún Chíomháin is a university centre which is part of University College Cork. It is situated close to the town of Ballyferriter, Co. Kerry.  It is located in the Corca Dhuibhne Gaeltacht and the beauty of the landscape as well as the Irish language and culture that can be found in the region attract many people to visit the area every year. The Dún is in use as a university unit since 1974. The hall, or Halla Cheaibhin as it is better known, was previously used a dance hall and a picture hall. Locals have many fond recollections of when the Dún was owned by Seán Ceaibhin and his wife Neilí, when it was used as a shop, a guest-house and as both a dance and public hall. The hall was recently renovated as a learning unit with movable and flexible equipment.   

Many people use the Dún each year including staff and students of University College Cork, people who live in the Corca Dhuibhne Gaeltacht and other Gaeltacht regions, people from all over Ireland and even people from abroad.

Events in Dún Chíomháin 2025-2026

Irish and Cultural Courses for International Students in Dún Chíomháin - September 2025.

On 7 September 2025 we were very happy to welcome students from Slovensko to Dún Chíomháin for the first time ever. They spent eight days with us while attending an Irish and cultural course. Six students came to us from Comenius University in Bratislava and one student came from Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica. James Ó Conaill, who teaches an Irish module in Slovensko accompanied the students on their trip. The majority of the students were never in Ireland before and they really enjoyed the scenery that Corca Dhuibhne has to offer.

Students from Ruhr-Universität Bochum are coming to Dún Chíomháin for many years and the link between the Centre for Spoken Irish and this university can be traced back as far as the 90's.  Along with their annual trip to Ireland, a staff member from the Centre for Spoken Irish regularly visits Bochum, where an Irish module is being offered to students for over 30 years. Eight students from Bochum came to us this year along with their director, Sylvia Botheroyd Lic.Phil.

Contact Details

Caitríona Budhlaeir and Susan Feirtéar
Managers of Dún Chíomháin
Dún Chíomháin
Ballyferriter
Tralee
Co. Kerry
T: +353 (0) 66 9156136
E: c.budhlaeir@ucc.ie or sfeirtear@ucc.ie

Ionad na Gaeilge Labhartha

Centre for Spoken Irish

Room ORB G02, O'Rahilly Building, College Road, Cork

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