Blasket Islands

The Blasket Islands, Irish: Na Blascaodaí [ nə blas'kue: di: ], are a group of small, now uninhabited islands off the tip of the Dingle Peninsula, which belongs to the county of Kerry in the Republic of Ireland. Of these, the five larger islands were inhabited, which is about seven smaller uninhabited. By far the largest island in the Great Blasket Iceland ( Irish: An Blascaod Mór, [ ən ' Blaske: d' mo: r] or [ ə blas'ke: d ' muər ] in Kerry Irish).

History

After a portion of the islands was inhabited continuously for several centuries, continued in the first half of the 20th century a decline. The living conditions on the islands have long been no more than a humane civilization and justice considered by the Irish State. In addition, declining catch rates of fishermen and the exodus of younger people resulted in the last 22 inhabitants of Great Blasket Iceland in 1953 evacuated to the mainland. Other islands were already empty drawn before.

The way of life on the Blasket Islands is still considered very archaic because it was based largely on the barter and the living conditions of comparatively simple if were not primitive. These ratios moved the islands and their inhabitants since the late 19th century and over again to the attention of anthropologists, sociologists and linguists. Inspired by the simultaneously achieved contacts authored some Blasketbewohner authentic descriptions of their lives.

Since the resulting work are largely autobiographical nature, these are summarized as Blasket Biographies. Especially known is Tomás Ó Criomhthains ( Thomas O'Crohan, 1857-1937 ) autobiography to tOileánach ( engl. The Islandman, dt The boats go no longer ) be, which was translated into German by Anne Marie and Heinrich Boll.

Reading these books, however, proves that the inhabitants of the Blasket Islands were not as strictly cut off from the rest of the world, as is often claimed. They had close commercial and cultural contacts with different parts of the Dingle Peninsula, but in later times with crews of trawlers international origin. In this respect, it is also a legend that the residents money neither knew nor had. At least the male population was regionally mobile and therefore dependent in other places on money.

In the 1980s, the abandoned houses were inhabited by a group of dropouts from Germany who lived there from fishing and hunting rabbits. The only connection to the mainland was a small dinghy. During this time, wild sheep breeding has been carried to the island.

Recently, there is a ferry from Dunquin Pier to Great Blasket. Likewise for boats that circumnavigate the Blasket group of Dingle Harbour at Birdwatching on in demand on Great Blasket. Here, a transfer from the larger boats in a boat is necessary.

The Islands

Great Blasket

Great Blasket ( Irish: An Bhlascaod Mhór ) is the main island of Blaskets. It is located about 2 km from the Irish " mainland" removed and extends approximately 6 km to the southwest. The highest point is " Croaghmore " with 292 m.

Beginish

Beginish ( Irish: Beiginis ) is a flat, only 14 m high island between Great Blasket and the mainland. There are large colonies of terns and gray seals.

Inishnabro

Inishnabro ( Irish: Inis na bro ) is separated by a 200 m wide strait of Inishvickillane and rises 175 m above the sea level.

Inishvickillane

Inishvickillane ( Irish: Inis Mhic Uibhleáin ) is home to several colonies of various seabirds. On it, there are also many ruins of old stone buildings.

Inishtooskert

Inishtooskert ( Irish: Inis Tuaisceart ) is the northernmost of the Blasket Islands. Due to its characteristic silhouette it is also known under the name of fear to Marbh ( Dead Man ). On the 172 m high island there are numerous colonies of seabirds as well as ruins of old stone buildings. It is worth mentioning in particular a petrels colony. With more than 27,000 breeding pairs ( as of 2000) it is the largest colony of its kind in Ireland and the UK.

Tearaght Iceland

Tearaght Iceland ( Irish: An Tiaracht ), and The Tearaght or Inishtearaght, is the most westerly of the Blasket Islands and also the westernmost point of Ireland. The uninhabited steep rocky island stretches about one kilometer east-west direction and 500 m in a north -south direction. The highest point is 200 meters above sea level. As with the other Blasket Islands can also be found here numerous seabirds. Important are colonies of Manx shearwaters and petrels. Wave runners are also observed, but do not seem to breed here.

1879 a lighthouse was built on Tearaght Iceland, which was automated in 1988.