![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7XVUUO2EANEBHM4TMPG6TCQXQ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=b1e5e21391198ecdf22128da70be467751d7638942437c07dec981db0f454a84&width=400&height=225)
Camping with a view on Great Blasket Island.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GJSTGSMPUZGANGQMYW5GVZN2ZU.jpg?smart=true&auth=db1951899afff7bc211f6eb7b11d2ae64f41a949c5274cddfc4caaa9d4b1f8ef&width=400&height=225)
Great Blasket Island served as a pandemic escape for one Irish couple.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NTRF2CKPWRCYXLB7ROUAGWFKAU.jpg?smart=true&auth=9c960ad418c5942456da09a9f22a0bffec523e46a4a8db8f21e1ca6e1706d853&width=400&height=225)
The island, off the coast of Kerry, is only accessible via boat.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/235RTUDCHVF7BKD7NAFZEQZQXY.png?smart=true&auth=933bb5d7cfcf94c7f40f69c5d1610aa6e623ec583e42f2e6ea35dc4d0d9b78cb&width=400&height=225)
Local residents on the Great Blasket Island, one of Europe's most westerly points.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AQJFIQ7LQZHJVPNGUGZYGL35BA.jpg?smart=true&auth=d1f129972ecfa74902cf317ffcf9e5b5311ca4f5fc1daa7d8afca98484b4173c&width=400&height=225)
Great Blasket Island is gearing up to welcome international travellers as Ireland introduces new travel rules.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XSCTCWWJYZC5FJ4624VHKVWQAI.jpeg?smart=true&auth=cb73ceb84c68defdf7d0862ba130ffae9f9d32f0bdd61bc9f3b17dc3cafea767&width=400&height=225)
A view of the Great Blasket Island, Ireland.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S42CJL7MZRCRNDJEZROYZPLJAM.jpeg?smart=true&auth=da3f41770b5c08d180681702eac73c02916edee5cc82d8c6cc97186d1db73d40&width=400&height=225)
Seabirds over the Great Blasket Island.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3FBHSGNGSNAODD7RUNEDEL6OYQ.jpeg?smart=true&auth=a202c61d4e14adefc10e47cd5a941cc24ba0278c7b251d66556ba714cddd7eb8&width=400&height=225)
Visitors to the island are at the mercy of the elements, with the setting sun signaling the end of each day.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6ZGKFPINNBEGXE6DV4XHD2KPNY.jpeg?smart=true&auth=f5cd7c436595bc3d438ab1c179d26fce982a17bd4493e95a2217150e6a729f47&width=400&height=225)
The island has been uninhabited since 1953 when the last residents requested evacuation from the Irish government.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EA6YMLZQD5CM3E6X5SD442C5TU.jpeg?smart=true&auth=ef3aca071ffdebe40f5b335f6ec8c63bbe7b61ff14c9fa206802e2ac5210b751&width=400&height=225)
Many of the residents on the island today have four legs instead of two.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ROYL6W4EINF6LFFPTRWDDB25DY.jpeg?smart=true&auth=a8fbf624b4d006fe4a0a0e7db340c4eea21b87549cc953b6b0369c35fc2b9665&width=400&height=225)
Dolphins play off the coast of the Great Blasket Island.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IWIMOW5QM5EV3OLBDAG5HRDCDM.jpeg?smart=true&auth=21bb118c72d6c92cf61dc2c2f2afc89226ab9417efe43401c7ac6f1a39826618&width=400&height=225)
Whales spotted in the surrounding waters of Great Blasket Island.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ITN6D5TWYREDFL7OI7YQ5SD4JI.jpeg?smart=true&auth=ab35562735e5c5bf65ad2ca5f7672e98562d93fd1a8311dcac80d94db35206d4&width=400&height=225)
A remote shoreline on the island.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TWG74BX5YBC7ZFUADH3ENPBG7M.jpeg?smart=true&auth=cbc2969d5b41b8ce90ff3c907a357e90341daaf4c33effaf35379978122a34c3&width=400&height=225)
Rabbits have found a safe home on the Great Blasket Island in Ireland.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UHYN5KOKIBGSPGUHWCWIZTNIUU.jpeg?smart=true&auth=688df33ac5ddb543f83fc080e4179fbaaabba2d6116858216bb04a1f2c695370&width=400&height=225)
A view from the visitor accommodation on the island.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7XVUUO2EANEBHM4TMPG6TCQXQ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=b1e5e21391198ecdf22128da70be467751d7638942437c07dec981db0f454a84&width=400&height=225)
Camping with a view on Great Blasket Island.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GJSTGSMPUZGANGQMYW5GVZN2ZU.jpg?smart=true&auth=db1951899afff7bc211f6eb7b11d2ae64f41a949c5274cddfc4caaa9d4b1f8ef&width=400&height=225)
Great Blasket Island served as a pandemic escape for one Irish couple.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NTRF2CKPWRCYXLB7ROUAGWFKAU.jpg?smart=true&auth=9c960ad418c5942456da09a9f22a0bffec523e46a4a8db8f21e1ca6e1706d853&width=400&height=225)
The island, off the coast of Kerry, is only accessible via boat.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/235RTUDCHVF7BKD7NAFZEQZQXY.png?smart=true&auth=933bb5d7cfcf94c7f40f69c5d1610aa6e623ec583e42f2e6ea35dc4d0d9b78cb&width=400&height=225)
Local residents on the Great Blasket Island, one of Europe's most westerly points.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AQJFIQ7LQZHJVPNGUGZYGL35BA.jpg?smart=true&auth=d1f129972ecfa74902cf317ffcf9e5b5311ca4f5fc1daa7d8afca98484b4173c&width=400&height=225)
Great Blasket Island is gearing up to welcome international travellers as Ireland introduces new travel rules.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XSCTCWWJYZC5FJ4624VHKVWQAI.jpeg?smart=true&auth=cb73ceb84c68defdf7d0862ba130ffae9f9d32f0bdd61bc9f3b17dc3cafea767&width=400&height=225)
A view of the Great Blasket Island, Ireland.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S42CJL7MZRCRNDJEZROYZPLJAM.jpeg?smart=true&auth=da3f41770b5c08d180681702eac73c02916edee5cc82d8c6cc97186d1db73d40&width=400&height=225)
Seabirds over the Great Blasket Island.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3FBHSGNGSNAODD7RUNEDEL6OYQ.jpeg?smart=true&auth=a202c61d4e14adefc10e47cd5a941cc24ba0278c7b251d66556ba714cddd7eb8&width=400&height=225)
Visitors to the island are at the mercy of the elements, with the setting sun signaling the end of each day.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6ZGKFPINNBEGXE6DV4XHD2KPNY.jpeg?smart=true&auth=f5cd7c436595bc3d438ab1c179d26fce982a17bd4493e95a2217150e6a729f47&width=400&height=225)
The island has been uninhabited since 1953 when the last residents requested evacuation from the Irish government.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EA6YMLZQD5CM3E6X5SD442C5TU.jpeg?smart=true&auth=ef3aca071ffdebe40f5b335f6ec8c63bbe7b61ff14c9fa206802e2ac5210b751&width=400&height=225)
Many of the residents on the island today have four legs instead of two.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ROYL6W4EINF6LFFPTRWDDB25DY.jpeg?smart=true&auth=a8fbf624b4d006fe4a0a0e7db340c4eea21b87549cc953b6b0369c35fc2b9665&width=400&height=225)
Dolphins play off the coast of the Great Blasket Island.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IWIMOW5QM5EV3OLBDAG5HRDCDM.jpeg?smart=true&auth=21bb118c72d6c92cf61dc2c2f2afc89226ab9417efe43401c7ac6f1a39826618&width=400&height=225)
Whales spotted in the surrounding waters of Great Blasket Island.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ITN6D5TWYREDFL7OI7YQ5SD4JI.jpeg?smart=true&auth=ab35562735e5c5bf65ad2ca5f7672e98562d93fd1a8311dcac80d94db35206d4&width=400&height=225)
A remote shoreline on the island.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TWG74BX5YBC7ZFUADH3ENPBG7M.jpeg?smart=true&auth=cbc2969d5b41b8ce90ff3c907a357e90341daaf4c33effaf35379978122a34c3&width=400&height=225)
Rabbits have found a safe home on the Great Blasket Island in Ireland.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UHYN5KOKIBGSPGUHWCWIZTNIUU.jpeg?smart=true&auth=688df33ac5ddb543f83fc080e4179fbaaabba2d6116858216bb04a1f2c695370&width=400&height=225)
A view from the visitor accommodation on the island.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7XVUUO2EANEBHM4TMPG6TCQXQ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=b1e5e21391198ecdf22128da70be467751d7638942437c07dec981db0f454a84&width=400&height=225)
Camping with a view on Great Blasket Island.
Meet the couple who escaped the coronavirus pandemic on a remote Irish island
As Ireland reopens to more tourists, Great Blasket Island is a must-see, according to caretakers who spent 12 months on the remote isle
![Hayley Skirka](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F5aa171d9-e19e-4724-894f-afdab957726f.png?smart=true&auth=0060497e4d6de279036bf67ee0e69c23726110ddc9067f6419a245b2b05cf91d&width=70&height=70)
Hayley Skirka
19 July, 2021
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic