THE BLASKET ISLANDS
During the 1920s and 1930s, the Blasket Islands became a beacon for literature on the edge of the Atlantic. Writers including Tomás Ó Criomhthain, Muiris Ó Súilleabháin, and Peig Sayers produced classics in the Irish language based on the physically challenging lives of island people clinging to the edge of Europe. Emigration eroded the island’s population, however, and the Great Blasket was abandoned completely in 1953. It remains uninhabited today, but it has become a magnet for anybody seeking a refuge from the frenetic pace of modern life.
Getting there
Watch seals basking in the pristine waters at the edge of the Trá Bhán and immerse yourself in the haunting beauty of the Great Blasket. You can travel by passenger ferry from the mainland to the Great Blasket Island during every season except winter, weather permitting. Ferries operate from the marina opposite the Dingle Bay Hotel (a 40 minute trip), from Ventry Harbour (this is a combined eco marine tour that takes about seven hours round trip) or at Dún Chaoin Pier opposite the island (20 minutes). Book your ferry in advance, and remember sailings are entirely weather-dependent.
The Blasket Centre
You don’t have to get on a boat at all to appreciate the Blaskets. The Blasket Centre/Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhóir in Dún Chaoin bears testimony to the unique history of the people of the Blasket Islandss, their stellar literary heritage, and the enduring power of their culture and tradition. It is also home to a fine coffee shop, with an enormous window overlooking the Great Blasket itself. They even have binoculars on hand so that you can watch the seals lolling on the beach.
For more information, see www.blasket.ie
The Blasket Centre
You don’t have to get on a boat at all to appreciate the Blaskets. The Blasket Centre/Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhóir in Dún Chaoin bears testimony to the unique history of the people of the Blasket Islandss, their stellar literary heritage, and the enduring power of their culture and tradition. It is also home to a fine coffee shop, with an enormous window overlooking the Great Blasket itself. They even have binoculars on hand so that you can watch the seals lolling on the beach.
For more information, see www.blasket.ie
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Dingle Bay Hotel, Strand Street, Dingle, Co. Kerry, Ireland V92 D9HH
Tel: +353 66 915 12 31
Email: info@dinglebayhotel.com
