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Having booked a ferry out to the Blasket Islands several months ago, we were disappointed to wake to a rainy and windy day. Nevertheless, we packed up early and headed out with hopes of a change. The drive along the Dingle Peninsula was still pretty. By this point we have been following the "Wild Atlantic Way" for about a week and the views of the sea and the villages scattered on the slopes are so picturesque.
We reached Dingle, our home base for the next two days, and drove out to the Blasket Island Visitor Center. Dingle is the only incorporated town on the entire peninsula. Quaint and with an exquisite harbor, it was a postcard for sure. The visitor center is at the tip of the peninsula facing the islands off in the distance. The entire center is devoted to the stories and history of the people who made the island their home until 1953. They were one of the last fully Gaelic strongholds where English was only spoken in the schools and the island was self-sufficient with fished, herding and a small about of agriculture to sustain them. In 1953 a massive storm threatened the entire island and they village was evacuated to the mainland. From there many immigrated to the US and Australia and none returned to the island. The federal government made it into a national park and memorial in 1978.
We toured the visitor center viewing the exhibits and reading the many stories presented. There was a great film and it was a way to pass the rest of day away from the pretty awful weather outside. We checked into our grand little flat above the owner's retail shop later in the day. Right in the center of the village, we had a bird's eye view of local and tourist life from our windows and everything was within walking distance.
The weather did not break and so our tour to the island was cancelled. We got a full refund from a very charming and apologetic staff...amused that we would even consider blaming them for the deluge. We spent the day hunkered down and ventures out into the day a few times during breaks int the rain.
Here are a few photos from the net that show what we might have seen had we been able to get out to the island park.
We reached Dingle, our home base for the next two days, and drove out to the Blasket Island Visitor Center. Dingle is the only incorporated town on the entire peninsula. Quaint and with an exquisite harbor, it was a postcard for sure. The visitor center is at the tip of the peninsula facing the islands off in the distance. The entire center is devoted to the stories and history of the people who made the island their home until 1953. They were one of the last fully Gaelic strongholds where English was only spoken in the schools and the island was self-sufficient with fished, herding and a small about of agriculture to sustain them. In 1953 a massive storm threatened the entire island and they village was evacuated to the mainland. From there many immigrated to the US and Australia and none returned to the island. The federal government made it into a national park and memorial in 1978.
We toured the visitor center viewing the exhibits and reading the many stories presented. There was a great film and it was a way to pass the rest of day away from the pretty awful weather outside. We checked into our grand little flat above the owner's retail shop later in the day. Right in the center of the village, we had a bird's eye view of local and tourist life from our windows and everything was within walking distance.
The weather did not break and so our tour to the island was cancelled. We got a full refund from a very charming and apologetic staff...amused that we would even consider blaming them for the deluge. We spent the day hunkered down and ventures out into the day a few times during breaks int the rain.
Here are a few photos from the net that show what we might have seen had we been able to get out to the island park.
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