Seals on the Beach – Great Blasket Island

The Great Blasket Island is located 3 miles off the tip of the Dingle Peninsula, Ireland. It was once inhabited by people, but abandoned in 1953 when only 22 inhabitants remained. Running water and electricity never reached the island. In the past few years a few of the houses have been restored and some very basic amenities provided. There is now a café, with limited produce, and a very small hostel. Most people just visit for the day, but getting there is a bit of an adventure. It involves life jackets, a dinghy and a small boat. 

There are some wild sheep and donkeys still living on the island and one of the extra photos shows a wild donkey wandering near the café. The donkeys are a bit shy and move away if approached.

The lady pictured in another of the extras is Sue Redican. She is the co-author of The Blasket Island Guide. She stays in a small stone hut on the main island during the summer months and uses a solar panel or a car battery to recharge her phone. She spends her time spinning, crocheting, recording the wildlife, and talking to visitors.

The weather came and went. We had some sunshine, some mist and some rain, but it was mostly fine