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Blasket Islands

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53: 1275: 349: 488: 474: 218: 1020: 263:. At its peak, the islands had 175 residents. The population declined to 22 by 1953. The government evacuated most of the remaining residents to the mainland on 17 November 1953 because of increasingly extreme winter weather that left the island's ageing population cut off from emergency services. The evacuation was seen as necessary by both the Islanders and the government. The Ó Suilleabháin family were reluctant to leave, and became the final family to depart 516: 1034: 68: 502: 530: 544: 462:. This ferry service is mainly for day-trippers. People can also camp on the island overnight. Passengers are transferred to a RIB (rigid inflatable boat) once the ferry gets close to the island, as there are no adequate landing facilities for a larger vessel. 247:
on Great Blasket. The islands were reported to have a population of "five or six families" in the mid-18th century. In the first half of the 19th century, the islands saw a rise in population due to tenants fleeing evictions in
189:, was abandoned in 1954 due to population decline and is best known for a number of Irish language writers who vividly described their way of life and who kept alive old Irish folk tales of the land. 270:
The islanders were the subject of much anthropological and linguistic study around the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries particularly from writers and linguists such as
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special area of conservation and five of the islands (not Great Blasket Island) are also designated as a special protected area. The islands have also been designated an
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in Ireland and have at least 13 species of breeding seabird. The islands and the surrounding waters are designated by the European Environment Agency as a
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meaning sharp reef of rock or dangerous place. The islands have also been called Ferriter's Islands. Topographer
1060: 849: 325:, Haughey used the island as a summer retreat and hosted many prominent visitors, including French President 1136: 303: 1681: 1010: 329:. In 1989, he introduced legislation to turn the Blasket Islands into a national park, including powers of 228:
The earliest known reference to the habitation of the islands is from the late 16th century. However, the
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Proceedings and Transactions of the Kilkenny and South-East of Ireland Archaeological Society
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from the descendants of the Ó Dalaigh family, who had lived on the island 70 years prior. As
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referred to Great Blasket, the largest of the group of islands, as Inishmore.
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There is a ferry service that calls only to the Great Blasket and sails from
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The last of the Blasket evacuees: ‘We weren’t great mixers on the mainland’
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The six principal Blasket islands, in order of largest to smallest, are:
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An tOileánach (The Islandman) and Allagar na hInise (Island cross-talk)
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The etymology of the name of the islands is uncertain, but it may be
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Evacuation marks end of an era as last families leave the Blaskets
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because they support breeding populations of several species of
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Uninhabited islands off the west coast of County Kerry, Ireland
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Feiritéar (Ferriter) family who rented the islands from the
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Peig and Machnamh Seanamhná (An Old Woman's Reflections)
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The Blasket Islands are an important breeding site for
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The islands were inhabited until 1954 by a completely
748:"On This Day: The Blasket Islands evacuation of 1953" 1015: 691:
The Antient and Present State of the County of Kerry
648:"The Castles of Corkaguiny, County of Kerry. No. II" 641: 639: 185:. The last island to hold a significant population, 1783:
Special Protection Areas in the Republic of Ireland
636: 57:Blasket Islands as seen from the lower slopes of 1759: 900: 869: 1778:Important Bird Areas of the Republic of Ireland 259:-speaking population and today are part of the 736:. Dublin: O'Brien Press, 1980 (new edn. 1998). 1177: 1061: 796:"Court rules Blasket Act is unconstitutional" 221:Replica of a traditional Blasket cottage in 968:"Transshipping to the Great Blasket Island" 838: 619:"The Blasket Islands: History and Heritage" 352:Map of the Blasket Islands as published in 300:Fiche Blian ag Fás (Twenty Years A-Growing) 1191: 1184: 1170: 1068: 1054: 201:in origin. It may have come from the word 66: 51: 645: 1773:Important Bird Areas of Atlantic islands 821:"Four win case over Haughey islands Act" 734:The Blasket Islands: Next Parish America 599:The Western Island, or the Great Blasket 347: 216: 769:Book (eISB), electronic Irish Statute. 768: 14: 1760: 771:"electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB)" 745: 726: 602:. Oxford University Press. p. 26. 595: 336:The archipelago's westernmost island, 1165: 1049: 687: 703: 701: 683: 681: 613: 611: 609: 1075: 920: 746:Langan, Sheila (17 November 2018). 713:The Great Blasket Centre and Island 571:"Na Blascaodaí/The Blasket Islands" 453: 72:Location map of the Blasket Islands 24: 1715:Category:Geography of County Kerry 1273: 25: 1794: 1710:List of townlands in County Kerry 996:The Blascaod Centre in Dún Chaoin 989: 902:"Blasket Islands SPA (IE0004008)" 871:"Blasket Islands SAC (IE0002172)" 698: 678: 606: 243:maintained a castle, possibly at 1032: 1018: 542: 528: 514: 500: 486: 472: 960: 946: 894: 863: 813: 788: 934:. BirdLife International. 2024 762: 739: 589: 563: 425: 308:Letters from the Great Blasket 169:) are an uninhabited group of 13: 1: 908:. European Environment Agency 850:Commissioners of Irish Lights 556: 237: 343: 7: 881:European Environment Agency 646:Hitchcock, Richard (1855). 310:by Eilís Ní Shuilleabháin. 10: 1799: 1153:List of islands of Ireland 465: 212: 173:off the west coast of the 1705: 1644: 1284: 1271: 1215: 1200: 1150: 1124: 1083: 331:compulsory purchase order 147: 142: 132: 121: 116: 108: 104:346 m (1135 ft) 100: 92: 82: 77: 65: 50: 37: 775:www.irishstatutebook.ie 732:Stagles, Joan and Ray, 688:Smith, Charles (1756). 192: 1278: 694:. Dublin. p. 183. 596:Flower, Robin (1945). 444:BirdLife International 357: 356:by Tomás Ó Criomhthain 276:George Derwent Thomson 225: 166: 101:Highest elevation 1744:52.08917°N 10.54694°W 1277: 1137:Muiris Ó Súilleabháin 351: 304:Muiris Ó Súilleabháin 220: 1096:Great Blasket Island 972:Great Blasket Island 365:Great Blasket Island 265:Great Blasket Island 187:Great Blasket Island 1749:52.08917; -10.54694 1740: /  1132:Tomás Ó Criomhthain 440:Important Bird Area 327:François Mitterrand 313:In 1974 politician 288:Tomás Ó Criomhthain 34: 1279: 932:BirdLife Data Zone 358: 280:Kenneth H. Jackson 245:Rinn an Chaisleáin 226: 109:Highest point 32: 1723: 1722: 1159: 1158: 1011:blasketisland.com 928:"Blasket Islands" 389:Inis Mhic Uileáin 155: 154: 16:(Redirected from 1790: 1755: 1754: 1752: 1751: 1750: 1745: 1741: 1738: 1737: 1736: 1733: 1677:Magharee Islands 1351:Ballymacelligott 1186: 1179: 1172: 1163: 1162: 1070: 1063: 1056: 1047: 1046: 1042: 1037: 1036: 1028: 1023: 1022: 1021: 983: 982: 980: 978: 964: 958: 957: 950: 944: 943: 941: 939: 924: 918: 917: 915: 913: 898: 892: 891: 889: 887: 867: 861: 860: 858: 856: 842: 836: 835: 833: 831: 817: 811: 810: 808: 806: 792: 786: 785: 783: 781: 766: 760: 759: 757: 755: 743: 737: 730: 724: 723: 721: 719: 705: 696: 695: 685: 676: 675: 643: 634: 633: 631: 629: 623:Dingle Peninsula 615: 604: 603: 593: 587: 586: 584: 582: 567: 546: 532: 518: 504: 490: 476: 454:Modern transport 252:by Lord Ventry. 242: 239: 175:Dingle Peninsula 70: 55: 35: 31: 21: 1798: 1797: 1793: 1792: 1791: 1789: 1788: 1787: 1768:Blasket Islands 1758: 1757: 1748: 1746: 1742: 1739: 1734: 1731: 1729: 1727: 1726: 1724: 1719: 1701: 1692:Skellig Islands 1657:Blasket Islands 1640: 1626:Valentia Island 1291: 1289: 1280: 1269: 1211: 1196: 1190: 1160: 1155: 1146: 1120: 1116:Tearaght Island 1111:Inishvickillane 1079: 1077:Blasket Islands 1074: 1038: 1031: 1024: 1019: 1017: 992: 987: 986: 976: 974: 966: 965: 961: 952: 951: 947: 937: 935: 926: 925: 921: 911: 909: 899: 895: 885: 883: 868: 864: 854: 852: 846:"Inishtearaght" 844: 843: 839: 829: 827: 819: 818: 814: 804: 802: 800:The Irish Times 794: 793: 789: 779: 777: 767: 763: 753: 751: 750:. Irish Central 744: 740: 731: 727: 717: 715: 707: 706: 699: 686: 679: 644: 637: 627: 625: 617: 616: 607: 594: 590: 580: 578: 569: 568: 564: 559: 552: 547: 538: 533: 524: 522:Inishvickillane 519: 510: 505: 496: 491: 482: 477: 468: 456: 428: 405:Tearaght Island 385:Inishvickillane 379:Inis Tuaisceart 369:An Blascaod Mór 346: 319:Inishvickillane 315:Charles Haughey 240: 234:Earl of Desmond 215: 195: 159:Blasket Islands 128: 73: 61: 46: 45: 33:Blasket Islands 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1796: 1786: 1785: 1780: 1775: 1770: 1721: 1720: 1718: 1717: 1712: 1706: 1703: 1702: 1700: 1699: 1694: 1689: 1684: 1679: 1674: 1669: 1664: 1659: 1654: 1648: 1646: 1642: 1641: 1639: 1638: 1633: 1628: 1623: 1618: 1613: 1608: 1603: 1598: 1593: 1588: 1583: 1578: 1573: 1568: 1563: 1558: 1553: 1548: 1543: 1538: 1533: 1528: 1523: 1518: 1513: 1508: 1503: 1498: 1493: 1488: 1483: 1478: 1473: 1468: 1463: 1458: 1453: 1448: 1443: 1438: 1433: 1428: 1423: 1418: 1413: 1408: 1403: 1398: 1393: 1388: 1383: 1378: 1373: 1368: 1363: 1358: 1353: 1348: 1343: 1338: 1333: 1328: 1326:Ballinskelligs 1323: 1318: 1313: 1308: 1303: 1297: 1295: 1282: 1281: 1272: 1270: 1268: 1267: 1262: 1257: 1252: 1247: 1242: 1237: 1232: 1227: 1221: 1219: 1213: 1212: 1201: 1198: 1197: 1189: 1188: 1181: 1174: 1166: 1157: 1156: 1151: 1148: 1147: 1145: 1144: 1139: 1134: 1128: 1126: 1122: 1121: 1119: 1118: 1113: 1108: 1103: 1098: 1093: 1087: 1085: 1081: 1080: 1073: 1072: 1065: 1058: 1050: 1044: 1043: 1040:Islands portal 1029: 1026:Ireland portal 1014: 1013: 1008: 1003: 998: 991: 990:External links 988: 985: 984: 959: 945: 919: 893: 862: 837: 812: 787: 761: 738: 725: 697: 677: 635: 605: 588: 561: 560: 558: 555: 554: 553: 548: 541: 539: 534: 527: 525: 520: 513: 511: 506: 499: 497: 492: 485: 483: 478: 471: 467: 464: 455: 452: 427: 424: 423: 422: 412: 402: 392: 382: 372: 345: 342: 214: 211: 194: 191: 153: 152: 149: 145: 144: 140: 139: 134: 130: 129: 122: 119: 118: 117:Administration 114: 113: 110: 106: 105: 102: 98: 97: 94: 90: 89: 87:Atlantic Ocean 84: 80: 79: 75: 74: 71: 63: 62: 56: 48: 47: 43: 38: 26: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1795: 1784: 1781: 1779: 1776: 1774: 1771: 1769: 1766: 1765: 1763: 1756: 1753: 1716: 1713: 1711: 1708: 1707: 1704: 1698: 1695: 1693: 1690: 1688: 1685: 1683: 1680: 1678: 1675: 1673: 1670: 1668: 1665: 1663: 1660: 1658: 1655: 1653: 1650: 1649: 1647: 1643: 1637: 1634: 1632: 1629: 1627: 1624: 1622: 1619: 1617: 1614: 1612: 1609: 1607: 1604: 1602: 1599: 1597: 1594: 1592: 1589: 1587: 1584: 1582: 1579: 1577: 1574: 1572: 1569: 1567: 1564: 1562: 1559: 1557: 1556:Knocknagoshel 1554: 1552: 1549: 1547: 1544: 1542: 1539: 1537: 1534: 1532: 1529: 1527: 1524: 1522: 1519: 1517: 1514: 1512: 1509: 1507: 1504: 1502: 1499: 1497: 1494: 1492: 1489: 1487: 1484: 1482: 1479: 1477: 1474: 1472: 1469: 1467: 1464: 1462: 1459: 1457: 1454: 1452: 1449: 1447: 1444: 1442: 1439: 1437: 1434: 1432: 1429: 1427: 1424: 1422: 1419: 1417: 1414: 1412: 1409: 1407: 1406:Castlegregory 1404: 1402: 1399: 1397: 1394: 1392: 1389: 1387: 1384: 1382: 1379: 1377: 1374: 1372: 1371:Brandon Creek 1369: 1367: 1364: 1362: 1359: 1357: 1354: 1352: 1349: 1347: 1346:Ballylongford 1344: 1342: 1339: 1337: 1336:Ballyferriter 1334: 1332: 1329: 1327: 1324: 1322: 1319: 1317: 1314: 1312: 1309: 1307: 1304: 1302: 1299: 1298: 1296: 1294: 1287: 1283: 1276: 1266: 1263: 1261: 1258: 1256: 1253: 1251: 1248: 1246: 1243: 1241: 1238: 1236: 1233: 1231: 1228: 1226: 1223: 1222: 1220: 1218: 1214: 1210: 1209: 1204: 1199: 1195: 1187: 1182: 1180: 1175: 1173: 1168: 1167: 1164: 1154: 1149: 1143: 1140: 1138: 1135: 1133: 1130: 1129: 1127: 1123: 1117: 1114: 1112: 1109: 1107: 1106:Inishtooskert 1104: 1102: 1099: 1097: 1094: 1092: 1089: 1088: 1086: 1082: 1078: 1071: 1066: 1064: 1059: 1057: 1052: 1051: 1048: 1041: 1035: 1030: 1027: 1016: 1012: 1009: 1007: 1004: 1002: 999: 997: 994: 993: 973: 969: 963: 955: 949: 933: 929: 923: 907: 903: 897: 882: 878: 877: 872: 866: 851: 847: 841: 826: 822: 816: 801: 797: 791: 776: 772: 765: 749: 742: 735: 729: 714: 710: 704: 702: 693: 692: 684: 682: 673: 669: 665: 661: 657: 653: 649: 642: 640: 624: 620: 614: 612: 610: 601: 600: 592: 576: 572: 566: 562: 551: 545: 540: 537: 536:Inishtooskert 531: 526: 523: 517: 512: 509: 503: 498: 495: 489: 484: 481: 480:Great Blasket 475: 470: 469: 463: 461: 451: 449: 445: 441: 437: 433: 420: 416: 413: 410: 406: 403: 400: 396: 393: 390: 386: 383: 380: 376: 375:Inishtooskert 373: 370: 366: 363: 362: 361: 355: 354:The Islandman 350: 341: 339: 334: 332: 328: 324: 320: 316: 311: 309: 305: 301: 297: 293: 289: 285: 281: 277: 273: 268: 266: 262: 258: 253: 251: 246: 235: 231: 224: 219: 210: 208: 207:Charles Smith 204: 200: 190: 188: 184: 180: 176: 172: 168: 167:Na Blascaodaí 164: 160: 150: 146: 141: 138: 135: 131: 127: 126: 120: 115: 111: 107: 103: 99: 95: 93:Major islands 91: 88: 85: 81: 76: 69: 64: 60: 54: 49: 44:Na Blascaodaí 41: 36: 30: 19: 1725: 1656: 1516:Gneeveguilla 1386:Caherboshina 1361:Blennerville 1290:Villages and 1235:Castleisland 1206: 1194:County Kerry 1076: 975:. 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Index

Blaskets
Native name

Mount Eagle

Atlantic Ocean
Ireland
Kerry
Irish
islands
Dingle Peninsula
County Kerry
Ireland
Great Blasket Island
Old Norse
Charles Smith

Dunquin
Norman-Irish
Earl of Desmond
Rinn an Chaisleáin
Dún Chaoin
Irish
Gaeltacht
Great Blasket Island
Robin Flower
George Derwent Thomson
Kenneth H. Jackson
Tomás Ó Criomhthain
Peig Sayers

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