This Island Business BBC Documentary of Simon Fancis' parents on the Blasket Island PART TWO

[@HAPPYTHELEAF]

I have spent many a few days camping on the great Blasket, mainly in the ruins of Tomás O'Criomthain's house, the first year I made the trip to Kerry was summer of 92, but have made my way to Dunquin, the weather was to bad to make the crossing. I was in 94 I eventually got across in an open punt, a Cork man married to a local took about 6 of us into the island. I spent a wonderful evening talking with one of the Dunleavy'S, Paddy I think was his first name, he came back every summer with his family to restore and winter damage to the house with the clochán opposite it, it was a dream come true to converse with him and his memories.

[@elauadeinsf]

Thank you so, I grew up on the island and remember Patti Dunleavy very well, he used to give my brother and I chocolate rolo's, he was the only other resident. He left a few stones in various places on the island with writing on, his name and perhaps something more. I hope they are still to be seen.

[@WildBoreWoodWind]

Living in rural Ireland was hard enough, those islanders, are/were really hardy folk - I'd like to think I could do it but I don't think I could. Great story about your parents and a time and place, when life was quieter and less complicated. Maith thu.

[@elauadeinsf]

Thank you - yes, it's harder to get that slow and present life nowadays but still possible. Once you get to a place like this you experience this quiet, and there are other islands (west of Scotland, west coast of Italy, and others) where the quiet life exists to this day.

[@colinstewart6367]

Great..part 1 &2

[@paulpayton8238]

Thank you so much for sharing this God bless you 🙏 ❤

[@elauadeinsf]

Thank you. God bless.

[@daid4543]

Great little documentary, I met these people in the 80’s when I visited the island, I wonder what happened them,

[@elauadeinsf]

I can tell you ! because they are my parents and my slightly older brother! They basically fell in love with small islands after this. I grew up here. They went on to live on another Irish island, Letermullen, in Connemara, where they ran the Guesthouse there and then Lesley, Dan and I ended up in the isles of Scilly, Cornwall, on the most beautiful Tresco. My father worked on a horticultural farm for people with learning difficulties and retired recently. My mum cooked for Princess Diana once while on Tresco, now she's in Cornwall, but misses Ireland. Tell me your name and i can see if they remember you!

[@AMan-zt8tz]

Enjoyed that

[@elauadeinsf]

So glad, it's quaint and romantic but real-life, too.

[@cliveedwards5466]

Ì have just seen a Ben Fogle programme about the current couple on the island, which made no mention of any of the previous inhabitants or of Roger and Leslie's time there, a bad omission It was a shame i never visited the island. but I did go to their wedding in Dingle in 1975.

[@elauadeinsf]

That's lovely to hear Clive! I shall tell my mum when I speak to her today. You can even pass on a message if you'd like. I'm sure she'd like that. She lives in Cornwall near my brother and his kids. We're still all very nature-orientated, and I go back to the island very often. I consider it my home and love how very alive the place is.

[@cliveedwards5466]

What an amazing thing is the internet!

[@mikekavanagh8952]

Excellent,

[@slaneyside]

the real life tom and barbara good. very enjoyable documentary.

[@elauadeinsf]

Thanks, but tell me, who are Tom and Barbara?