A typical island cottage
This diagram shows the layout of a typical island cottage.
Kerry County CouncilA typical island cottage
Kerry County Council
Kerry County Council
A typical island cottage
This diagram shows the layout of a typical island cottage.
Kerry County CouncilOnly the houses remain
The Blasket Islands are famous for producing writers and poets.
They had a population of less than 200 and life there was often cut off from the mainland. It was a struggle to live on the island and many people emigrated.
The last family left the island in 1953 but today you can still see the remains of the houses.
The village on the island is an old type of mountain village with a steep slope. It would have been exposed to very strong winds and heavy rain.
Homes on the Blasket Islands
Here is a picture taken in the 1950s of houses on the Blasket Islands. They don't look very sheltered do they? They would have had very thick walls to protect the people who lived there from the harsh wind and biting rain. No one lives in these houses anymore but if you visit the Island you will still see some of them are intact.
Kerry County CouncilHomes on the Blasket Islands
Kerry County Council
Kerry County Council
Homes on the Blasket Islands
Here is a picture taken in the 1950s of houses on the Blasket Islands. They don't look very sheltered do they? They would have had very thick walls to protect the people who lived there from the harsh wind and biting rain. No one lives in these houses anymore but if you visit the Island you will still see some of them are intact.
Kerry County CouncilWalls were low and thick, while windows were small and deep-set. Because the houses were built to keep out the weather many were very dark and a door had to be opened to let in light.