A couple who have spent six months as caretakers of the Great Blasket Island off County Kerry are appealing for their successors. Darren and his partner took on the role in April, managing three holiday cottages and a small cafe on the largest of the Blasket Islands, which has been uninhabited since 1953.
The island, 2km from the mainland, has no electricity or hot water. The couple relied on a small wind turbine for phone charging, and used tealights, candles and head torches at night. Despite the basic conditions, they described the experience as a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity, with highlights including seeing the northern lights in May and swimming in the Atlantic every day in June.
The job involves welcoming guests from April to September, after which rough seas prevent access. During Storm Kathleen in early April, the couple were marooned for 12 days without boat access. They spent the time hiking, reading books by former islanders such as Peig Sayers, and observing the island’s 2,000-strong seal colony, sharks, dolphins and whales.
Applications for the next six-month stint are now open, but capped at 300. The current caretakers advise prospective applicants to “go for it”. The role requires a willingness to live simply and a love for unspoilt nature.
