Visiting The Great Blasket Island

[@shellmcgrath5757]

I go there every year several times if I can. just love it there. heading there in 2 weeks and can't wait. Hope work has started on Thomas's house.

[@Karl_with_a_K]

I'm staying in house 4 for two nights in a few weeks time, July 2021. I can't wait.

[@sheilam4964]

👍👍👍👍- I wonder, if there had been a ferry twice a day before the Island's last residents left, if they would have needed to leave? To my understanding they left because to get to the mainland they had to use their own row boats and row by hand themselves, no matter the weather. Now that the residents are gone it is profitable to run a ferry twice a day. Something just doesn't seem right here.

[@envueltoenplastico]

Even if you ignore the fact that so much has changed between the 1950s and today, including boat technology and safety - there's an enormous difference between running a tourist ferry service when sea conditions are favourable (which is not guaranteed even in the height of summer) and running a reliable ongoing ferry service for the locals back then. Island life was bleak, with no absolutely no electricity, services etc. The government moved a lot of people from remote western islands around this era, including Great Blasket, because it was not practical for people to live there. In the case of Great Blasket, the population was dwindling and the island was already in the process of long, slow and voluntary abandonment. From Wikipedia: "The island was inhabited until 1954 when the Irish government decided that it could no longer guarantee the safety of the remaining but rapidly declining population. In truth, the Islanders had been petitioning for relocation following the death of Seánín Ó Cearnaigh. Seán had become ill and as a result of poor weather, no doctor or priest could reach the island. Continued inclement weather prevented his body being taken to the consecrated graveyard across the Blasket Sound in Dunquin for a number of days. It was this tragic event that led the Islanders to realise there was no continued prospect of a viable community remaining on the island."

[@jibjab351]

In other words "Bugger Off".

[@waltspears8179]

So much history .great job on vidios.and imfo

[@harrisonboone2248]

This video should have been titled " A how to guide for city people"...

[@QuaaludeCharlie]

And don't pay the ferryman till he gets you to the other side :) QC

[@deaganachomarunacathasaigh4344]

A jacket, a hat, wellies, few ham sandwiches and a flask of tae will do nothing fancy ☕🥪😂

[@michaelcoker3197]

Why not be a bit more welcoming to visitors?

[@deaganachomarunacathasaigh4344]

Because we dont like visitors 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@paulrussell1207]

@@deaganachomarunacathasaigh4344 "We don't like visitors"... main industry on Dingle? "tourism" .

[@deaganachomarunacathasaigh4344]

@@paulrussell1207 I'm only joking jaysus. Tourists are handy you can get loads of money out of them

[@paulrussell1207]

@@deaganachomarunacathasaigh4344 Fair enough lol. Is the guy narrating the video joking too maybe? I thought you guys over in Dingle were marketing the whole peninsula like one of those restaurants where the staff give you abuse, for the experience of it! Moving on from the friendly dolphin.

[@wiseferret4745]

Why are the Irish unwelcoming to visitors? First off they're not if you greet them with a good "dia dhuit cead mile falte," second off read the labor gabála Érenn.

[@bloggerwg]

Maybe i missed the part, but WHEN is the best time to meet the Seals on Great Blasket Island? :-)

[@patrickcantillon3427]

Feel free to shake their hand whenever you like

[@chriscallaghan3951]

LOL! Check out their footwear at 8:35

[@unggitsastratji]

For a second there I thought the video was gonna show them 'falling' (or slipping) because of their foot ware . . . .

[@mickmcdonagh1557]

Lol

[@kmchilders]

The footwear is the most important thing. From experience.

[@kevinmcquade2154]

Interesting that in this safety video the Captain of the inflatable rib is wearing a pair of Addidas flat soled trainers! Youd think theyd make a safety film telling the "staff" to dress appropriately for filming. Ah well!

[@grahamwishart4832]

Yes, after the focus on appropriate footwear including close ups of guy tying his laces we have a family group with totally inappropriate footwear.. is it a subliminal message? Lol

[@fredje40]

Great Blasket Island is a lovely remote spot. But this safety guide is almost comic and knocking on an open door. Better stay away from the place if you have no clue and can't take care of yourself.

[@MsMesem]

It's a brilliant video. DOC should take note especially in relation to UV and footwear.

[@hirampriggott1689]

"Once thriving village,..."......I don't believe the inhabitants ever thrived on that island, they just strived. They settled on the island to escape the Brits. I've seen all Dingle peninsula, Slea Head Drive, and that path that goes down to the boat ramp on the Dunquin side. I have hard enough time trying to acknowledge people rowing across in canvas boats. Those waters are very rough and unforgiving

[@fixitright9709]

I think they meant leprechauns not midgets

[@mrtompoe]

This is just a health and safety video 👎

[@MsMesem]

Slippy. Is this an Irish word? For the rest of us 'slippery'.

[@louisedavis2128]

I'm Scottish and use the word slippy, never used slippery.

[@MsMesem]

@@louisedavis2128 It's a slippery slope...

[@jillianryan1890]

No it’s an English word