A Kumeyaay in Ireland

Photo: the author with some local sheep in Ireland

by Mandy Curo (mandycuro@hotmail.com)

Synopsis: Last month was just like a dream when I travelled to Dublin, Ireland to see my daughter and roam the countryside with her. This place that my oldest child has come to feel at home in, left a lasting impression on me, and gave me a look at how another culture with a similar history to ours views foreigners, tourists, and continues to practice harmony with the land they call home even as circumstances change. I was surprised to find so much trust and welcoming kindness in them. I was also surprised to see so much beauty in the landscape and the care they take with their animals. Honestly, I didn’t feel worthy of all the views I took in. From Dublin to Killarney to Galway and all the green in-between, it was enchanting, mesmerizing, and charming with every turn we took, every street we walked down and every drop of rain that landed on our faces. Nine days gave way to countless memories.

Hellyaa pekwillym, haasillyvech ikuu ‘ehkay weman ekwaach. Mayuum wechan, ‘emat ‘esemay hepeshiiw ‘chehepil tawaa. ‘Iikwich haypuk ‘uuyaawch nyetaanuw ‘ewaa kuhemaa. ‘Ehaa kunilly shuu’att nyaapum ‘epechaay pam, wamp may purp rewii. Nyii kwa’kush umaaw, nyii ‘etaay umaaw; purp nyaama. Nyawiihchm, kwa’asin pes purp rewii. Weshash tawaa, wellyap temurches.

‘Enyaach ‘ehink Dublin ‘aamp tanaam ‘enyewich tawaa, nyaapuma ‘ehinch museum ‘ehap. Nyip hun, Daniela ‘enyaa ‘aanii kwell-yiiw wechaawch. Rraw, ‘ewuuwh ‘iichaah.

Nya’maayk, Killarneym ‘enyaawapch ‘enaa. Nyehay chewuuw ‘enyesuw, Cha’yaawch ‘uunyaawk ‘enyaawapch yuu’ip, may ekwiim ‘kavaaych llyuuwaach. Nyaamat shemap rewii. Metetay, ‘ewily, haachuulluu tuukap nyapuuma kutuuyalp ‘ewaa kushemaa puwk.

Pweebl nya’way Galway haasillyvech yaakm. Mat ‘uuchuch wemirr ‘ehmiiy puknaach peyaa ‘aanii suuatt. ‘Iipay llyuw neyiw kuullk ‘aanii hemay nyapuum nyakwar mesheyayp wiiny. ‘Enyaach aamp emat esimaay hepshiiw temur ‘ily xa’kaaylly ematch hemii. ‘’ekwii tawaa tawaa tawaa. ‘nyekwkall weharches pez ‘iichih taapinches. Puy ‘echeyuwch ‘uumall. Echeyuwch iinuyp, ‘eshash hetuu may ‘enyaa wehap yuully nyemsap wemir. ‘Echeyuwch nyii sekwiiy akekwii umaaw. Nyii sekwiiy tehewii hemay umaaw, nyapuuma nyawe’ip mat pehum, nyii Kemeheyay Kumaaw puknaach wal maawii ‘uuchuch e’han chepakh. Chaw aarraw Daniela puuyuu metiipatt purp rewii.

Yiiw uuttak rewii

‘Uuchuch nyaamat nyehay

‘Uuchuch e’han pez tiemp e’han umaaw

Nyapuum ‘epeshuwh, ‘epeshuwh

Ketuy nyeminyh, ‘ekur nyeminyh,

‘Enyaa nyeminyh nyewatt,

Malmaal, Uutullm kaa!

Tehewil ‘enyaawapch weyaawh.

Kechpay ‘estik ‘enyaawapch uuchyuwph

Iihally maay mapchu?

Maayum maakwayh?

Peyii, ‘epeshuwh.