The Blasket Islands – Na Blascaodaí

The Blasket Islands

The Blasket Islands which comprise of 9 islands, are located 6km beyond the most westerly tip of the Dingle Peninsula. The largest of the islands is An Blascaod Mór (where the visitor center is located) was finally abandoned on 1953 when the last of the twenty-two inhabitants were moved to the mainland.

There is no other island community of this size that has offered such a wealth of literature and producing world renowned writers who documented island life in their beloved Irish language. Classic stories include The Islandman, Twenty Years A-Growing, and Peig.

The Blasket Centre

A fascinating interpretive center and museum honors the community that lived on An Blascaod Mór and now includes a new viewing platform with stunning views of the wild Atlantic coast and islands at the halfway point of the Slea Head Drive. The center contains exhibitions, interactive displays, artefacts, audio visual presentations and artworks. You can also view the Great Blasket Island and tours of the deserted village on the island are also available. The village is sited on a hill slope at the eastern end of the island, at a point nearest the mainland. Buildings are grouped in clusters, terraced in some of the oldest parts, and otherwise running parallel to one another.

There is a bookshop on site, as well as museum and archive facilities, workshop and language rooms. A restaurant – ‘An tIascaire’ – is available on site and provides free WiFi.