The O’Brien Press

The Blasket Islands are famous for their writers, lore and unique location off the south-west tip of Ireland. This book is perfect for anyone who wants to explore the Great Blasket Island, learn its history and discover what has captivated visitors and residents in this special place.

A beautifully illustrated and compelling history of the life, traditions and customs of an isolated community that has now disappeared. The book traces the fate of the Blasket people and the slow erosion of their culture to that sad day in 1952 when the families were evacuated from the Great Blasket Island.

Introduction by Lorcán Ó Cinnéide p7

Preface 11

Part One: The People of the Blasket Islands

1. ‘The like of us will never be again …’ 17
2. How Outsiders Saw the Islanders 39
3. Leaving the Island 59

Part Two: The History of the Blaskets

4. The Origins of the Island Community 71
5. The Island Families 87
6. The Blaskets during the Famine 101

Part Three: The Built Environment on the Great Blasket Island

7. The Harbour 117
8. The Island Village and its Houses 133
9. The Development of the Field System 153

Part Four: Other Lives

10. The Outer Islands 171
11. The Islands’ Wildlife 189
12. The Evacuation 209

Practical Information 219

Appendix 221

Acknowledgments 231

Notes 232

Illustration Sources 237

Ray Stagles was born and brought up in Leyton, east London. He studied at University College London, evacuated to Aberystwyth, and there met his future wife, Joan. They both took Honours degrees in English in 1942. He served as a radar mechanic in the Fleet Air Arm until 1946. After the war he taught in schools in Essex, then became a Head Teacher, first, in 1957, in Shropshire, then, from 1964, in Berkshire.

In 1966 he and Joan first visited the Great Blasket Island, which from then on became their joint passion. His interests included hill walking, books, jazz, classical music, theatre, cryptic crosswords and scrabble. Ray died in 2016.

gorgeous … discover what has captivated visitors

Woman's Way

on a rare clear day, you can see the beautiful Blasket Islands off the plush southwest coast of Ireland. The view is both spectacular and surreal, inspiring the imagination to soar with lore of yore. Authors Joan and Ray Stagles have gone further, detailing the history and culture of a people that once inhabited the long abandoned locale. Well written, with accompanying images and illustrations, the work brings to mind the fragility of community, and that - as Great Blasket Island did in 1952 - homesteads and histories can be dropped and left for dead anytime. Thankfully, as is the case here, those memories can be kept alive for future generations. An important work, and an essential read for those with a passion for Eire’s past

Celtic International Magazine

fascinating black-and-white photographs and a series of detailed maps … The Stagles' book illuminates facets of Irish island life that have all but disappeared

RTE.ie Culture

bringing to life a people and place with the keen, curious and empathetic eye of the outsider. There are some wonderful stories and histories in here … punctuated with rare and evocative photographs, this is both a priceless history as well as a record of humanity

RTE Guide

beautifully illustrated and compelling

Ireland’s Own Magazine