blasket islands visit

A Guide To The Blasket Islands In Kerry: The Ferry, Things To Do + Accommodation

By Author Andy Revell

Posted on Last updated: December 30, 2023

If you’re thinking about visiting the Blasket Islands in Kerry, you’ve landed in the right place.

Ireland is home to many ruggedly remote nooks and crannies, but few are as isolated as the Blasket Islands in Kerry.

Offering a real chance for adventure, or a short trip to a place that time almost forgot, visiting the islands is an incredible experience.

In the guide below, you’ll discover everything from where to grab the Blasket Islands ferry (to the Great Blasket Island) to what there is to see and do on the island.

Some quick need-to-knows about the Blasket Islands

Photo by Danita Delimont on Shutterstock

So, a visit to the Blasket Islands is a little less straightforward that a visit to some of Kerry’s other islands, like Valentia Island . 

Pay particular attention to the ‘getting there’ section, as there are a few different companies offering ferries to the Blaskets.

1. Location

There are 6 principal Blasket islands, all located west of the Dingle Peninsula in Kerry. The largest, An Blascaod Mór or the Great Blasket, lies around 2 km from Dunmore Head, on the mainland.

The island of Tearaght is the most easterly point of the Republic of Ireland, though it remains uninhabited.

2. The Great Blasket Island

The name gives it away slightly, but the Great Blasket Island is indeed the largest of the 6 main Blasket Islands. It’s also the one that you can visit, either as a day trip or an overnight stay.

The Great Blasket Island was inhabited until 1953 by a hardy Irish-speaking population of mostly fishermen and farmers. Nowadays, much of the old village lies in ruins, though some houses have been restored and are open for visitors.

3. Getting to the Great Blasket Island

So, you’ll need to take a ferry to the Great Blasket Island. There are a few options to choose from (Dingle and Dun Chaoin ), and we’ll take a look in more detail a little further down. 

I’ll level with you here; the main reason the last inhabitants were forced to abandon the island was because of bad weather.

Open and exposed to the whims of the mighty Atlantic, it can get pretty wild on the island. Ferries don’t sail unless the conditions are good enough, so you’ll need a fine summer’s day if you’re planning to visit.

A speedy history of the Great Blasket Island

Photo by Remizov on Shutterstock

The Great Blasket Island has a long and rich history going back many hundreds of years and it’s widely regarded as one of the best, off-the-beaten-path of the many Kerry attractions .

There’s evidence of a Ferriter castle dating back to the 13th century, but it’s likely that the islands were inhabited much earlier than that. 

Life on the island

With the wild Atlantic crashing upon the shores of Great Blasket Island, conditions were tough. Life was hard, but not without its joys, and for many eventual settlers, it was a welcome change from the hardships they had to endure on the mainland.

Having said that, islanders would have to regularly contend with harsh weather, the 3-mile sea crossing to the mainland, and the long walks to see a doctor or priest. 

Survival and fine traditions

Most families survived by fishing, though sheep and cows were also reared on the island, and some islanders even grew potatoes and oats — though the land wasn’t ideal for agriculture.

Music and dancing played an important role in staving off boredom while storytelling kept their culture alive through the cold winter nights.

Sadly, by the 1940s, extremes of weather, as well as immigration of younger generations, had forced many to leave the island, and on November 17th, 1953, the remaining residents were officially evacuated to the mainland.

The home of literary heavyweights

Nowadays, the Great Blasket Island is known for producing a number of fantastic writers. Three of the most notable examples are; Tomás Ó Criomhthain, Peig Sayers and Muiris Ó Súilleabháin.

Their works vividly tell the tale of life on the harsh island while keeping the ancient folk legends of that rugged land alive. It’s said that the islanders spoke the most poetic form of Irish of all the Irish-speaking regions.

As an Irish-speaking island, their works were originally written in Irish, each with a wonderfully poetic way with words that seems to flow through the blood of the islanders. If you’re not fluent in Irish, you can still enjoy them — here are three favourites:

• Machnamh Seanamhná (An Old Woman’s Reflections, Peig Sayers , 1939)
• Fiche Bliain Ag Fás (Twenty Years A-Growing, Muiris Ó Súilleabháin , 1933)
• An tOileánach (The Islandman, Tomás Ó Criomhthain , 1929)

The Blasket Island Ferry

Photo by Wil Tilroe-Otte on Shutterstock

To get to the Great Blasket Island, there are 2 ferry services, both of which operate throughout the summer months, typically from April until September.

They’ll only sail in good weather though, so if conditions are rough, you’ll have to wait until things settle down a bit.

It’s essential to book your ferry in advance, as spots can get taken up pretty quickly. At low tide, you may have to take a raft to the landing stage of the island, as there’s no pier.

Option 1: The Ferry from Dun Chaoin Pier (April – Sept 24th)

Operated by Blasket Island Ferries , this twin-engine passenger ferry has space for 48 passengers and is fully equipped with lifeboats, life vests, and quality radio gear.

It departs from Dunquin Pier (Cé Dún Chaoin) from 9:50 every day, with crossings more or less every hour — as long as the weather is good anyway!

A return ticket costs €40 for ages 16 and over, and the crossing typically takes 20 to 40 minutes depending on the conditions at sea (check times and prices in advance).

Option 2: The Eco Ferry (April – Oct)

The Eco Ferry , operated by the similarly named Blasket Islands Ferry, is another good choice at around €59.

With space for 44 passengers, the twin-engined craft is up to date with all the required safety features. There’s space on take to look out for sea life along the way.

It sails daily from Ventry, Ceann Trá Pier, with crossing typically taking around an hour. The morning crossing departs at 10:00 and returns at 15:00, while the afternoon crossing departs at 12:30 and returns at 17:30. 

Things to do on the Great Blasket Island

Photo by Madlenschaefer (Shutterstock)

There’s a handful of things to do on the Great Blasket Island that make it well worth venturing over to.

Now, some of these may be hampered by the weather, if you visit when it’s pouring down, but if you visit when it’s fine, you’ll be laughing.

1. Soak up the views (and the silence)

One of the beauties of the Great Blasket Island is that, as it’s a  little  off-the-beaten-path, it doesn’t attract huge crowds.

The beauty of this is that the island is rarely awash with hoards of tourists, so you’ll be able to walk in peach and enjoy the magnificent views of the Kerry coastline.

2. The Blasket Island Looped Walk

The Great Blasket Island Looped Walk is a 3.5 – 4 hour walk that takes you along a very old trail and treats you to magnificent views.

This is a  fairly  handy walk and it’ll suit most fitness levels. Now, for some reason, we can’t find any good guide to this walk online.

If you fancy giving it a go, ask for directions on the ferry over and they’ll be able to point out where to start and what route to take.

3. The Eco Marine Tour

If you’re in search of unique things to do on the Blasket Islands, the Eco Marine Tour should tickle your fancy.

Everything from porpoises and common dolphins to Orcas (occasionally) can be seen in the waters around the Blasket Islands at certain times of the year.

This tour is a great way to see the island from a unique perspective and, if the weather is fine, you’ll be treated to great views throughout. 

4. The most westerly coffee shop in Europe

Photo via Blasket Islands Cafe

Yes, the most westerly coffee shop in Europe. Now there’s a title to be proud of! If you’re on the island and in need of a pick-me-up (or if you’re feeling chilly), head to the cafe.

The Blasket Islands Cafe shot to fame several years ago when it advertised the ‘Best Job in the World’ while looking for two people to live in the island accommodation and run the cafe.

Blasket Island Accommodation

Photo via Airbnb

To truly experience the haunting beauty of the Blasket Islands, you’ve got to spend at least a night or two there.

The Blasket Islands experience is something I keep hearing about over and over again. The cottage sleeps 7, so it’s perfect for a group heading away for a weekend with a difference.

Note: if you book a stay through the links above, we’ll make a tiny commission that helps us keep this site going. You won’t pay extra, but we really do appreciate it.

The Blasket Island Centre

Photos via the Blasket Centre on Facebook

To fully enjoy the Blasket Islands, you’ll need to be reasonably fit; there are no roads, no ramps, and it’s mostly wild land.

However, even if you’re not up for the rigours of the island, you can still immerse yourself in its culture and history at the Blasket Island Centre .

Located along the Slea Head drive , you can see the Great Blasket out over the ocean. Within the centre, discover the story of the islands and the people that called them home.

FAQs About the Blasket Islands

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from where to get the Blasket Islands Ferry to whether or not the Great Blasket Island is worth visiting. 

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

Can you stay on the Blasket Islands?

You can stay on the Great Blasket Island, but typically only over the summer months. There are 4 self-catering cottages that have been lovingly restored, but you can also wild camp.

What is there to do on Blasket Island?

The Great Blasket Island is a place to escape the modern world. Here you can truly enjoy an unspoiled nature. There are hiking trails and plenty of opportunities to catch a glimpse of seals, dolphins, whales and even basking sharks.

You’ll also see a stunning array of birds and other island wildlife. Tours of the abandoned village offer an intriguing insight into the history of the island, and a small cafe provides refreshments.

How do you get to Great Blasket Island?

There are a number of ferries and boat tours that can take you to the Great Blasket Island, departing from a number of ports on the mainland.

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10 Things To Do In Great Blasket Island, Ireland (For 2024)

Categories Kerry , Things To Do

The Great Blasket Island is the largest among the Blasket Islands, which are the westernmost islands off the coast of Ireland. 

This island measures roughly 3 kilometers by 1 kilometer (2 miles by ½ mile) and is predominantly rocky. It is also the westernmost point of Europe and has a long, fascinating history.

Even with its size and remote location, the Great Blasket Island has attracted visitors over the years.

The rustic surroundings and the calm atmosphere attracts tourists who wanted a quick, memorable getaway. Its incredible, unspoiled landscape is the walker’s paradise.

This stunning island is an easy ferry ride from the Dingle Marina .

If you’re up for a unique day tour, here are some of the things to do in Great Blasket Island when you visit. 

Things you'll find in this article

1. Blasket Center

2. eco-marine tour, 3. enjoy the silence, 4. see the ruins in great blasket island, 5. painting and photography, 6. bond with the grey seals, 7. stay in a cottage is one of the best things to do in great blasket island, 8. birdwatching, 9. go on a fishing trip on great blasket island , 10. hike the great blasket loop.

Before you board a ferry to the islands, be sure to stop by the Blasket Center. This is located in Dún Chaoin, right on the edge of the Dingle Peninsula.

The fascinating museum and heritage center is a homage to the people who lived in the Blasket Islands.

These people made up the community that endured the harsh conditions on the island and lived off farming and fishing.

The center has interactive displays and exhibits that showcase life for the island dwellers, their unique culture, and rich literary legacy.

Some of the popular written works about Blasket Islands are The Islandman, Twenty Years A-Growing, and ‘Peig’.

It is a great place to visit that will truly inspire you before hopping on that boat and will make you appreciate the island more once you’re there. 

One of the top Great Blasket Island attractions are the rich marine life in the waters surrounding it.

Most tours offer cruises that take you not just around Dingle Bay or the Great Blasket, but also to some of the most beautiful places in the Wild Atlantic Way .

Within the Dingle Bay and Great Blasket area, you get to experience the thrill of spotting dolphins, puffins, sharks, and whales.

Watch as they playfully jump or swim close by, and be sure to have your camera ready!

The tours will also take you through some of the most stunning sceneries, making it among the best activities to do in Great Blasket Island. 

Once you reach the island, the first thing that you’ll notice is the silence. Time seems to have stopped in Great Blasket and every nature sound is amplified.

The crashing waves, the chirping birds, even the hum of the boats passing or going- they somehow sound different from how you hear them when in the mainland.

If you’re looking for a place to truly relax, this is one of the top things to do in Great Blasket.

Bring a padded mat, pick a spot, then sit or lie down. Nothing is more relaxing than spending time on an island that feels like you have it to yourself. 

The Great Blasket Island and the archipelago where it’s a part of has been around since prehistoric times.

The main island has also been inhabited, but the population dwindled by the early 1950s. The people who used to live here moved somewhere else.

Ruins were left and they are now among the interesting places to see in the Great Blasket Islands.

Stroll through the island’s green roads and you’d come across one of these.

From prehistoric to simple domestic ruins, each tells a fascinating story about life in Great Blasket. They are left untouched and now among the must-see parts of the island. 

A number of those who visit the Great Blasket Island are usually attracted by its literary heritage.

After all, this is the setting of the Irish-language writings of Tomás Ó Criomhthain, Muiris Ó Suilleabhain (also known in English as Tomás O’Crohán and Maurice O’Sullivan), and Peig Sayers.

However, as much as these writers were able to capture island life and its beauty through their words, the island’s unique light is perfect for those into painting and photography.

Bring your art materials or trusty camera, as the island’s stunning landscape begs to be captured.

This is one of the things to do in the Great Blasket Islands that you can literally bring hone with you. Peaceful and unspoiled surroundings are quite memorable. 

Great Blasket Islands may have been mostly abandoned by its permanent human dwellers several decades ago, but one wouldn’t exactly call it uninhabited. The island has quite a variety of wildlife, in and around it.

One of those that are considered to be the best attractions in the Great Blasket Islands are its population of grey seals. These adorable creatures have made the shores of the island their home.

As you walk along the beach, you’ll most likely encounter a pack of them hanging out in the sand, lining the water’s edge.

Apart from the waves crashing, theirs are probably the only other sounds you’ll hear regularly on the beach. 

Most of those who visit the island only stay there for about three to five hours.

They either hike, sit by the rocks and relax or take photos. The island has been uninhabited for decades due to the lack of some basic things like electricity.

Over the years, cottages and a few other accommodations have been set up to encourage visitors to experience island life. They are mostly self-catering and have only the essentials.

Stay for a night or two and experience rustic island life. This is quite an adventure and definitely a unique thing to do in the Great Blasket Island.

With this experience, you get to enjoy a bit of life on the island. You’ll be surrounded by splendid scenery in one of the most beautiful and unspoiled places in Ireland. 

The Great Blasket Island’s remote location and landscape have made it a haven for a variety of bird species.

As you stroll along the beach or hike around the loop, you’d most likely encounter these birds. Watch out for snowy owls that you can even see during the day.

You’d most likely hear the seabirds, stonechats, and swallows first before you see them.

But you’ll most likely catch them mid-flight, perched on rocks or about to descend.

Get your cameras ready, as these birds are among the best things to see in Great Blasket Island. 

            View this post on Instagram                         A post shared by The Great Blasket Island (@greatblasketisland) on Jan 8, 2020 at 4:41am PST

Explore and make the most of your visit to Great Blasket Island by going on a fishing trip.

These trips originate from Dingle Bay. You get to enjoy the sights around the Blasket Islands, spot marine and bird life and try your luck at fishing.

This is one interesting Great Blasket activity that you should definitely try.

Apart from the stunning scenery, you also get to catch some pollock or mackerel with the help of the guide. 

            View this post on Instagram                         A post shared by The Great Blasket Island (@greatblasketisland) on Sep 28, 2019 at 4:11am PDT

Wear sturdy hiking shoes and see more of Great Blasket by hiking on the loop. This trail goes around the entire Great Blasket Island. It is a moderate to strenuous hike that takes around five hours to complete.

Along the way, you get yo enjoy the stunning scenery that includes its rocky landscape, ancient ruins, beehive huts, and the sandy beach.

The walk also goes up to the summit of the island’s highest point An Cró Mór (292m). It is a scenic climb that lets you see more of the island. Be careful though as there are cliffs around the loop.

A bit of a strenuous hike and a little dangerous, but it is a worthy thing to do in Great Blasket Island that allows you to truly experience it.

Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 40 countries for the past 8 years. I also lived in 3 continents – from the Caribbean, South East Asia to Africa. But despite living in several countries, my love for Ireland remains the same. A country that had been a part of my life since I was 14 because of my love for Irish music and bands. Ireland Travel Guides was born because of this passion and hopefully, in some little ways, this website will be able to help you on your next trip to Ireland.

11 Best Things To Do in Kerry, Ireland - Ireland Travel Guides

Tuesday 5th of May 2020

[…] mystical Great Blasket is the main island of a small archipelago that is part of County […]

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Journey to the Blasket Islands

Join us on a boat tour to this County Kerry wonder

The Blasket Islands-Na Blascaodaí

A boat trip to the Blasket Islands

Famous for its literature, scenery and wildlife, the Blasket Islands in County Kerry offer an unmissable experience for the adventurous traveller. The best way to see them? Jump on a boat tour from Dingle!

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“It’s one of the most dangerous stretches of water in Europe,” says our skipper, Billy. “The currents here can be quite bad, the water rushes in like a river.” We’re bobbing about in the Blasket Sound aboard the “Peig Sayers” Stormforce 11 RIB speed boat as part of the Great Blasket Island Experience tour .

Ahead of us lies the cloud-darkened mass of the Great Blasket Island, which writer Seán Ó Faoláin once described as “wallowing like a whale in the darkening sea”. Its steep slope is strewn with broken-down cottages; a place suspended in the past.

The weather hasn’t been on our side for the trip out here. For more than an hour, we’ve rolled over silver-tipped Atlantic waves that have slapped the boat and caused varying degrees of sea-sickness in some of the passengers on board. We’ve passed ancient forts, jagged sea cliffs and majestic rock formations along the coast of the Dingle Peninsula , but the green faces tell their own story.

“Just sit down when you get onto land,” Billy says kindly as he helps the unwell onto a dinghy for the final journey to the island. “That’s all you can do… it will pass.”

Great Blasket Island © Tourism Ireland

For centuries, the Great Blasket Island was home to a community of people for whom crossing these waters was a way of life. It’s thought that the islands were first inhabited in the 1700s, but by 1954, the population had dwindled from a peak of 176 in 1916 to just 22 – and they were ready to depart for a new life on the mainland.

“There was no option but to leave,” islander Gearóid Cheaist Ó Catháin told the Irish Times in 2014. The isolation of the Great Blasket locals was tested by the death a young man from meningitis; bad weather meant he couldn’t access medical care, nor could they access a coffin for him after his death. “People got scared. They were getting old and the isolation started to get to a lot of them.”

Dinghy to the Great Blasket Islands

Billy helps visitors into the island

Crossing in the dinghy under an ashen sky, it’s easy to appreciate a small bit of the unpredictability of life here, where summers must have been glorious and winters dark and brutal. A simple landing on the island at the small harbour is an adventure in itself. After that, it’s a steep hike up the slippy, jagged rocks, followed by a sharp grassy incline that causes even the fittest of the group to pause for breath.

Great Blasket Island pier

Out in the ocean rises the archipelago of misty-green islands: Inis na Bró, An Tiaracht, Inis Tuaisceart. To our left and right is the abandoned village of broken-down cottages that seem to be slowly being consumed by the landscape. I wait behind as our group trails on up the ridge. It’s suddenly eerily silent but for the mournful bellows from the island’s colony of grey seals.

It’s hard to imagine the Great Blasket as a hive of activity, but at its peak 30 houses were wedged into the side of this hill, as well as cattle, sheep, donkeys and poultry. Smoke would have puffed out of cottage chimneys, villagers would have been hard at work, children’s voices would have been heard.

Today, it’s a different world.

Abandoned village on Great Blasket Island

Tomás Ó Criomhthain’s restored cottage

Usually, a visit to the Blaskets would begin with a tour and talk from an OPW guide, but this is weather permitting, and the rough sea conditions today have limited the amount of boats crossing over. After spending some time exploring the cottages, I decide to undertake the 90-minute walking route around the island’s precipitous hills.

Great Blasket Island hills

The grassy path leads away from the village towards the cliffs and as I venture along, a pack of strange flies dance around my head, my boots are filled with muddy water from several missteps, and the warm, windless air becomes thick with midges.

But what beauty there is here, with heather-flecked hills that tumble down to a flinty sea studded with misty-green islands.

For the 90 minutes I’m walking, I don’t meet a single soul.

Views from the Great Blasket Island

The beauty of the Blaskets has been written about extensively, but while the island is large, the liveable bit of it feels quite small. Instead, the vast bulk of the Great Blasket is made up of cliffs, hills and bog. Living in this environment was challenging, and it wasn’t uncommon for islanders to fall to their deaths. The son of one of the Blasket’s most famous writers , Peig Sayer, died while pulling heather on one of the slopes here in 1920.

As I round the southern edge, the village comes into view and the white of writer Tomás Ó Criomhthain’s restored cottage looks remarkable against the almost otherworldly green of the grass. It’s extravagantly, heart-stoppingly beautiful. I’ve just enough time to walk down to where the cliffs overlook the pale sands of the beach, and sit and watch the seals while having my lunch.

Visitors relaxing on the island

Chris from The Great Blasket Island Experience

Back in the boat, Billy is eager to get us going to see some of the area’s wildlife. With the engine off, we bob about close to shore while the seals pop up their heads as if engaged in an endless game of whack-a-mole.

The grey seal colony here is now the largest in Ireland, but these playful creatures only moved in after the humans left. In the past, they would have been hunted by islanders, who used to roast their meat for food and use their skins and oil.

Seal at the Blasket Islands

Billy hopes we’ll spot more wildlife, but he’s managing our expectations and says he doesn’t fancy our chances. Still, off we set at high speed, heading towards what feels like the horizon. “We’re looking for where the gulls are feeding, where the fish are”, Billy explains as he scans the stony water, eyes narrowed, attention fully focussed.

It feels like we’re suspended between moments of stillness and mad dashes after something imperceptible. Astonishingly, we suddenly find ourselves surrounded by a frenzy of common dolphins, with Billy excitedly telling us how they round their fish into a circle, bunching them tighter and tighter before taking turns to feed.

Dolphin pod

A dolphin's dorsal fin breaching the surface

As we’re enjoying the dolphin activity, a huge sleek, basalt-coloured hump breaches the surface of the water and with it comes an almost overwhelming stench of putrid fish – a minke whale. “That’s why they’re called ‘stinky minkys’m lads. Can you smell him?”, laughs Billy. It’s an exhilarating sight, with all of us transfixed and gasping whenever we see the whale.

Gannet in flight

Sea birds swoop overhead, and Billy points out manx shearwaters, storm petrels and gannets, who torpedo the water around us. He’s hoping for a humpback to make an appearance, but we’re all so high on wildlife, we don’t care. “Wow, lads, look at that,” Billy suddenly shouts.

“It’s a skua – wow, that’s so rare, that’s a much better sight than the minke whale.” We watch as the great skua – often described as the pirate of the sea – harasses a smaller bird in an effort to get it to drop or regurgitate its food, which it then scoops up.

Sea arch, Dingle Peninsula

Cliffs near Dingle

Nobody minds when, after around an hour, Billy suggests we head back to town. We know we’ve done well. A satisfied calm takes over the boat as we chug our way to Dingle under royal blue skies, stopping to spend a few moments under the incredible sea cliffs and craggy sea arches on the peninsula’s coastline.

Stepping off the boat in Dingle, we’re all exhausted but utterly delighted with ourselves. It feels like the day has been spent on another planet, and it takes a while to adjust to the busy town. But a few hours later, sitting around the crackling warmth of the fire at Foxy John’s , I’m already planning my return.

The Blaskets keep calling.

Where do you want to go?

Do you feel like tasting wild Atlantic sea spray on your lips? Strolling through vibrant city streets? Exploring ancient ruins? Right this way…

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• Coastal escapes
• History and heritage
• Nature and wildlife

Located roughly 2km beyond the most westerly point of the Dingle Peninsula, the Blasket Islands are comprised of sandstone humps, incredible cliffs and surrounding reefs. Despite being known as the birthplace of great literary icons such as Peig Sayers, emigration heavily impacted the islands, with the largest of the islands, The Great Basket (An Blascaod Mór), saying goodbye to its last natives in 1953.

However, The Great Basket welcomes regular visitors. Passenger ferries operate on a seasonal basis from Dunquin Pier, Dingle Marina and Ventry Pier so why not hop on a boat and find out how the islanders lived back in the day.

Browse the forgotten dwellings, walk along the steep grassy paths and admire the extraordinary birds that fly above. Don't forget to keep an eye out for the large colony of seals who live there.

When back on the mainland, check out the Blasket Island Centre for more insight into island life.

We recommend planning to spend 4 to 5 hours here.

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Blasket Islands

Dingle Peninsula

The Blasket Islands (Na Blascaodaí), 5km offshore, are the most westerly part of Ireland. At 6km by 1.2km, Great Blasket (An Blascaod Mór) is the largest and most visited. Day trippers come to explore the abandoned settlements, watch the seabirds, picnic on Trá Bán (a gorgeous white-sand beach near the pier) and hike the island's many trails.

Dingle Boat Tours and Blasket Islands Eco Marine Tours run seasonal boat trips. Confirm ahead as adverse weather can cause cancellations.

All of the Blaskets were lived on at one time or another; there is evidence of Great Blasket being inhabited during the Iron Age and early Christian times. The last islanders left for the mainland in 1953 after they and the government agreed that it was no longer viable to live in such harsh and isolated conditions, although today a few people make their home out here for part of the year.

Note there are no camping facilities on the islands; just a handful of self-catering cottages .

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Nearby Dingle Peninsula attractions

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7 . Gallarus Oratory

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Blasket Islands / Na Blascaodaí

Just a short boat ride from the Dingle Peninsula, lie the deserted Blasket Islands. The largest island - the Great Blasket / An Blascaod Mór - is not only home to incredible wildlife, but the history is phenomenal. The last of the island’s inhabitants left in 1953 but reminders of the fascinating lives of the local farmers and fishermen remain.

With a little digging and some help from Ionad an Bhlascaoid / The Blasket Centre , a museum and interpretive centre located in the Gaeltacht village of Dunquin / Dún Chaoin, you’ll uncover a celebrated and historically rich literary history. In fact, the islanders published many books during the 1920s and 1940s that are considered classics today. 

The Blasket Centre / Ionad an Bhlascaoid

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Ireland’s Blasket Islands

On these six islands off the tip of the Dingle Peninsula, traditions of ancient Gaelic culture still survive

Rick Steves

If you’re touring the Dingle Peninsula, visit the Blasket Islands if you have time and an interest in Irish heritage. Start by visiting the Great Blasket Centre, then take a boat to the islands.

Great Blasket Centre This center, on the mainland facing the islands, is an essential stop before visiting the islands—or a good place to learn about them without making the crossing.

This state-of-the-art Blascaod and Gaelic heritage center gives visitors the best look possible at the language, literature, and way of life of Blasket Islanders. The building’s award-winning design mixes interpretation and the surrounding countryside. Its spine, a sloping village lane, leads to an almost sacred view of the actual island. Don’t miss the exceptional 20-minute video (shows on the half hour), then hear the sounds, read the poems, browse through old photos, and gaze out the big windows at those rugged islands...and imagine. Even if you never got past limericks, you’ll appreciate the poetry of these people—so pure and close to each other and nature (€4, covered by Heritage Card, Easter–Oct daily 10:00–18:00, closed Nov–Easter, fine cafeteria, well signposted on the Slea Head Drive near Dunquin/Dun Chaoin, tel. 066/915-6444).

The Blasket Islands This rugged group of six islands (Na Blascaodai) off the tip of Dingle Peninsula seems particularly close to the soul of Ireland. The population of Great Blasket Island (An Blascaod Mór), home to as many as 160 people, dwindled until the government moved the last handful of residents to the mainland in 1953. Life here was hard. Each family had a cow, a few sheep, and a plot of potatoes. They cut their peat from the high ridge and harvested fish from the sea. There was no priest, pub, or doctor. Because they were not entirely dependent upon the potato, they survived the famine relatively unscathed. These people formed the most traditional Irish community of the 20th century—the symbol of ancient Gaelic culture.

A special closeness to an island—combined with a knack for vivid storytelling—is inspirational. From this primitive but proud fishing/farming community came three writers of international repute whose Gaelic work—basically tales of life on Great Blasket Island—is translated into many languages. You’ll find Peig (by Peig Sayers), Twenty Years a-Growing (Maurice O’Sullivan), and The Islander (Thomas O’Crohan) in shops everywhere.

The island’s café and hostel have closed down, and today Great Blasket is little more than a ghost town overrun with rabbits on a peaceful, grassy, three-mile-long poem.

Getting to the Blasket Islands From Dunquin: The 40-passenger Blasket Islands ferry runs hourly from Dunquin, at the tip of Dingle Peninsula; in summer, it goes every hour between 10:30 and 14:30, depending on weather and demand (€25 round-trip, April–Sept, no boats Oct–March, ferry tel. 066/915-6422, 066/915-4864, or 087/231-6131, www.blasketislands.ie). There’s also a scenic two-hour Blasket Island Eco Tour circuit cruise from Dunquin Harbor, which departs at 12:00 and 14:30 (€35, April–Sept only, same phone numbers). Or you can combine the Eco Tour with a stop for time on the island (€40, call for schedule). Dunquin has a fine hostel (tel. 066/915-6121).

From Dingle Town: In summer, a fast little catamaran runs between Dingle town and the Blasket Islands. The ride (which may include a quick look at Fungie the dolphin) traces the spectacular coastline all the way to Slea Head, in a boat designed to slice expertly through the ocean chop. A larger boat, the 70-seat Lady Breda, offers a similar service from Dingle town and operates when there’s enough demand. These boats also do three-hour eco-tours for those interested in puffins, dolphins, and seals. The tricky landing at Great Blasket Island’s primitive little boat ramp makes getting off a challenge, and landing virtually impossible in a storm (€35 same-day round-trip; departs from the marina pier in Dingle at 11:00, 13:00, and 15:00; includes 35-min ride with free time to explore island, call Mary to confirm sailing times of either boat—or for more details on the eco-tours—at tel. 066/915-1344 or mobile 087-672-6100). 

Rick Steves ( www.ricksteves.com ) writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio. E-mail him at [email protected] , or write to him c/o P.O. Box 2009, Edmonds, WA 98020.

© 2010 Rick Steves

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The Great Blasket Island Experience

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The Great Blasket Island Experience - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Blasket Islands

• 1 Understand
• 3 Get around

The Blasket Islands ( Na Blascaodaí ) are an archipelago off the Dingle peninsula of County Kerry . They've had no permanent residents since they were evacuated in 1953, but in summer Great Blasket the largest island has a couple of rangers-cum-caretakers, self-catering cottages, and camping is permitted.

Understand [ edit ]

These rugged islands are the most westerly parts of Ireland, dashed by the Atlantic. They've become symbolic of remoteness and isolation, in both a positive and a negative light - yet they're not. Their main village at the northeast end of Great Blasket is ony 2 km from the mainland, so in calm conditions you can reach it by kayak, sail-board, SUP-board, you could just about swim. But then, it might less than calm going back. In winter the ocean rages for weeks on end, there's no harbour and the anchorage becomes unsafe; nothing for it but to drag the boats well up the beach and hunker down. Bygone ages had lower expectations, but when in 1953 a young man died for want of medical help that was almost within hallooing distance, then something needed to change.

The positive side was the sturdy self-reliance of the islanders. They had fishing, grazing for livestock, garden vegetables, and seabirds eggs. They grew potatoes but were never dependent on them and fared well during the Great Famine, indeed mainland families relocated here. They spoke only Irish, in a distinctive dialect that scholars were keen to record. They produced a remarkable series of writers, notably Tomás Ó Criomhthain, Peig Sayers and Muiris Ó Súilleabháin. And the place had no strategic value so they were never colonised or garrisoned: even Cromwell couldn't be bothered, nor Queen Victoria's squadrons of muskets and moustachios. Nationalist writers therefore romanticised the Blaskets as a pure survival of unconquered ancient Irish land, people and lore. If only the rest of the country would emulate these isles, and subsist on hand-weaving and left-over cabbage, what a blessed Tír na nÓg an Ireland unshackled from Britain could become.

The negative side was a harsh life scratching a living from rugged land and hazardous sea, living in crude cottages without basic sanitation or other utilities, in a very small, inward-looking community. In the unlamented days when the English made jokes about the Irish, the Irish made similar jokes about Kerry folk, and Kerry folk joked about Blasket islanders; then the Blasket folk enjoyed a chain of mock and mirth all the way down to the outermost islands. The population peaked at some 160 in the 1911 census then went into sharp decline; by 1951 only two dozen remained. After a particularly wretched spell in 1953, the government agreed to evacuate them before another winter closed in. The final boat party had to abandon their heavy belongings on the beach when yet another storm broke. Thereafter the islanders returned in summer for grazing, with their sheep and cows making a ruckus in the boats, but there were no permanent inhabitants except the three lighthouse keepers of Tearaght until that was automated in 1986.

The islands geologically are a continuation of Dingle peninsula, mostly of Devonian sandstone. Except for low-lying Beginish they rise abruptly, hence the lack of harbours, with sea caves at their base, and are lashed by sea spray, rain and sleet but seldom snow. There are no trees or peat-bogs, so fuel was always a problem. Salt-tolerant vegetation clings to the slopes, with little invasive flora such as bracken. Sea birds roost on all the islands and outlying stacks, especially storm petrels and Manx shearwaters, plus puffins, chough, kittiwake and fulmar. There are no rats, which would make short work of the ground-nesting birds, so it's essential to keep it that way. Around 2002 someone thought it a bright idea to introduce hares to Great Blasket, where they thrive. Their impact appears tolerable but whether they should remain is a question.

There have long been hopes (shared by the Blasket diaspora) of safeguarding the islands as a National Park, but long-established property rights have thwarted this. The Office of Public Works nowadays owns most of the property and can block unwelcome developments, so de facto it is a park. You wouldn't want a rash of holiday cottages here or a busy helipad. That said, the Blasket Islands are not wilderness but remote farmland. Low-intensity upland farming created their landscape and is part of what needs to be preserved.

Get in [ edit ]

52.14 -10.272 1 Dingle is the only town of any size on the Dingle peninsula. Boats sail in summer, weather permitting, from there or from the smaller nearby harbour of Ventry or 52.12416 -10.46044 2 Dunquin pier . Some of these are simply ferries, they take you there and back and leave you to do your own thing, reckon €55 pp. Others are boat trips, puttering round the islands and pointing out this and that. And some are complete packages, facilitating stays on the islands, guided walks and so on.

Boat operators (who offer other trips) in 2021 include Dingle Boat Tours , Great Blasket Island Experience , Blasket Island Ferries [dead link] , and Eco Marine Tours .

The ride out takes 50 min from Dingle, 40 min from Ventry and 20 min from Dunquin, in small bouncy open boats where you're likely to get sprayed. The islands lack harbours - one reason for their evacuation - so you transfer to an even smaller boat to scramble ashore. Wear stout hiking boots, and come prepared for changes of weather, there's no shelter. Dogs are permitted on the leash.

Get around [ edit ]

Getting between islands can be even more difficult than reaching them from the mainland, and there are tragic examples of islanders starving to death while others got by but were unable to send help. All the main islands have a traditional landing cove (but by no means a pier) sheltered from the prevailing southwesterly weather but precarious when the wind lies in other quarters. But in fair weather this isn't rufty-tufty navigation and, with one eye always on the conditions, the Blaskets are well within the range of competent amateur mariners: use a Rib / Zodiac capable of being beached.

Hike everywhere on the islands that a human can safely set foot. Great Blasket has a grassy cart track or boreen , still used by tractors, otherwise it's just narrow sheep-trails. Islanders occasionally used carts but more often loaded ponies and donkeys with paniers. Tis said you could always spot them on the mainland, as they would persist in walking single-file even along the broad boulevards of Tralee.

Biking isn't forbidden but the tracks are unsuitable and the boats won't carry bikes. Even a mountain bike would frankly be an encumbrance both aboard or ashore.

See [ edit ]

• On the mainland: Dunquin or Dún Chaoin has the Blasket Centre , an exhibition on island life, and views down a corridor likened to "looking through a stone telescope". Some boat trips sail from here. Two km south, Dunmore Head looks onto the archipelago: the channel is only 2 km wide at this point. Lure Island just off the Head isn't considered as one of the Blaskets.
• Wildlife on the boat ride: always keep looking! Fungie the Dolphin is no longer with us but other dolphin sightings are common, and you never know what strange marine beast may briefly swim into view. Even if they don't show up, they're doing you a favour, as keeping your eyes on the horizon will help to minimise sea-sickness.
• Illaunbaun and Carrigfada are the two islets seen north of the landing area. Nothing there but more seabirds.

• Dark skies: day-trippers must be gone long before dusk draws in. Overnight visitors need a clear sky and true nightfall, which in mid-summer might be around 23:00. But then the Milky Way and other celestial objects will swim into view as never before.

Do [ edit ]

• Hiking on Great Blasket you start from the east landing beach of An Tra Ban. Follow the track along the shoulder of the ridge: it loops both sides of the two closest hills, so you might want to walk northside outbound for shelter, and southside on return with the wind and westering sun at your back. Conversely, you might prefer a breeze to deter the confounded midges. The hike is 4 km via Slieve Donagh (281 m) to An Cro Mor at 292 m / 958 ft the highest point in these islands. From here the mainland is out of sight and the ridge dwindles for another 2 km, with the outer islands and Atlantic beyond. But it's not worth coming if the tops are socked in by low cloud.
• Hear whale-song: it's likened to the groaning of an old woman, and comes from northern minkes. Much of the song is infra-sound below the human auditory range, and a banshee-screech comes not from whales but shearwaters. Minkes are hard to spot as they have low fins and blow-jets, and don't breach or up-flukes.

Buy [ edit ]

You need to be self-sufficient.

Eat [ edit ]

In summer there's a small cafe in the village.

Drink [ edit ]

There's running water on tap in the village, otherwise it's spring water (preferably from a source that the sheep don't use as a bidet) or what you carry with you.

Sleep [ edit ]

Three modern cottages are available on Great Blasket for self-catering; they may arrange breakfast. They have running water, gas cookers and fuel-burning stoves. They have no electricity, hence no lighting, and showers are cold. Overnight guests are prioritised on the Dunquin crossing in Peig Sayers (and get a lower fare), while other boats are often fully booked by day-trippers. These cottages are not available in 2021, and no longer run as a hostel.

Camping is permitted anywhere, the challenge is to find level ground. Most campers pick somewhere near the village facilities, but the midges will find you wherever you pitch.

Connect [ edit ]

As of May 2021, the mobile signal is patchy but you should manage 4G from all Irish carriers on the boat ride and on all islands except Tearaght. Great Blasket village has facilities for phone charging.

Go next [ edit ]

• Back to your port of departure it must be.
• Other nearby islands such as Valentia will seem tame by comparison. For a really remote and memorable experience, try to reach Skellig Michael .

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The Great Blasket Island Experience

The most thrilling way to see Dingle Bay; experience the outstanding natural beauty of the Dingle coastline, paired with an exciting speed boat blast.  The Great Blasket Island Experience – a speedboat Eco Tour & Island landing – departs Dingle Marina, touring the beautiful Peninsula coastline to the Great Blasket Island.

 Experiencing fresh Atlantic sea air, breathtaking views, staggering cliffs and wildlife that is native to the Dingle shores.

Approximately 6 hour round trip @ €80 per person, we depart Dingle Marina daily at 11am (directly below Dingle Tourist Office, next to the Fungie the Dolphin statue).

• Touring significant geological spots – exploring cliffs, coves and formations that are over millions of year old.
• Taking a wide arch out the bay, we cover deep sea ground where whales, dolphins, porpoises and an abundance of sea birds are likely to feed.
• In settled weather conditions we will visit puffins on Inishvickillane.
•  Reaching the Great Blasket Island, we tour the Northern shore which is a hot-spot for Grey seal activity.
• Passengers land on the Great Blasket Island  for 3.5 to 4 hours  where they can take a guided tour of the abandoned village provided by OPW guides and explore the many wonders the Island has to offer.

A complimentary Tea/Coffee is provided for all our customers and use of bathroom facilities. 

No rush or time restraints for a personal easy going trip with a  maximum capacity of 12 passengers. The ‘Peig Sayers’ Stormforce 11 is the flagship of the Redbay range, offering the best that RIBs can offer.  We have 12 seated indoor cabin for those who want to keep dry and warm.  The Peig Sayers incorporates quality, speed, safety and comfort.  You are not seeing the best of Ireland unless you catch it from the water.

Please be aware that the Midges (flying insects) are particularly bad in August & September. Please make sure you bring insect repellent & are well sprayed before departing.

This trip requires at least 9 passengers to operate. If this minimum is not met, the trip is subject to cancellation. 

Dunquin collection for overnight guests only.

Now offering Dunquin to the Great Blasket Island return trip for overnight guests only. Direct crossing taking approximately 20 minutes @ €35 per adult, €20 per child and under 4’s go free. Collection time depends on tide so please call for more information and please be flexible. If times do not suit, we may be able to arrange alternate transfer to suit schedules, however additional charges will incur. In the event of bad weather, this is not an option. 

Once arrived at Dunquin, please park at available spot, walk straight past hut (different ferry company) and  down the windy path to the bottom of the pier, where we will be in a bright orange boat called the Peig Sayers (as seen below)

Please note we highly recommend overnight guests take our transfer option from Dunquin to the Great Blasket Island.

When taking the Dingle transfer, we CANNOT guarantee a Dingle return due to number of day tour passengers. In this case, guests WILL BE returned to Dunquin regardless of their  departure point. We coincide the Dunquin collection with the tide. Please contact Alice for more information on Dunquin collection schedules. Please be flexible with times. 

Bookings Notes:

Please note before booking, passengers/guests must have a valid working email or contact number in the event we need to contact them. as conditions can be very unsettled, please contact a day before departure to confirm sailings., please be aware that we use 6.5 hours as a guideline for our tour. departure and return times may vary depending on a variety of factors and be aware we may and often do get delayed..

Boat Cancellation: 

Any booking canceled within 14 days to 48 hours before arrival half booking fee will be taken.

Any booking canceled less than 48 hours before arrival will be fully charged.

From 1st May 2020 there is a 5% non refundable booking fee.

Billy will determine a cancellation due to rough seas ONLY. Please be aware we do not accept cancellations in the event of rain or cloudy weather if we are still able to cross from either Dingle OR Dunquin.

Sailing times WILL VARY in the event of bad weather. Tide and sea conditions dictate our business and sailing times, so please be flexible. Cancellations will not be approved or refunded if a sailing time does not suit.

I understand if on the morning of sailing and visibility is poor , I will not receive a refund if I decide not go on the tour or reschedule seats. It is at the Skippers discretion to cancel tour due to rough seas ONLY .

Join us on this amazing Island

Great blasket island experience – unique boat tours and accommodation..

The Great Blasket Island is a remote Island located off the Dingle Peninsula. With over 1,100 acres of unspoiled largely mountainous terrain, the Great Blasket Island is approximately 4 miles long by 1/2 mile wide. Now classified as a Special Area of Conservation, it is home to an abundance of wildlife and fauna. This uninhabited Island is thriving with Irish history, heritage and life.  Take one of our popular  Great Blasket Island Boat Tours or overnight in unique self catering accommodation, immersing yourself in the ultimate Irish getaway.

The Great Blasket Island is one of the most remote parts of the Irish Language Speaking areas of Corca Dhuibhne. Although deserted since 1953 it is famous for the abundance of literature produced by the Irish speaking inhabitants who will live on forever through the documentation by them of the extraordinary details of their ordinary lives

“ Dheineas mo dhícheall an chuntas cruinn a chur síos ar an dream a raibh aithne agam ortha, ionas go mbeadh cuimhne orainn ar Shlí na Fírinne ”  Peig Sayers 1873- 1958

We offer two day tours options:

Premium Day Tour:  The most comprehensive full day in Dingle Bay. Experience the natural beauty touring the coastline and rugged cliffs of the Wild Atlantic Way all to the Great Blasket Island.

Includes: Marine & bird life, cave & cove explorations, outer Blasket Islands, 4 hour Great Blasket landing, complimentary tea/coffee and use of Island facilities. 

Direct Ferry:

A direct transfer option: a fast 45 minute guided ferry from Dingle Bay to Great Blasket Island. Stopping with any wildlife enroute, this is for those who wish to experience less boat time and more Island exploring. A great option for families and walkers.  

Dunquin Pier to the Great Blasket Islands

Blasket Ferry & Island Tours

Welcome to Blasket Ferry & Island Tours. We provide a ferry service from  Dunquin Pier to The Great Blasket Islands.

We run 3 daily trips from Dunquin Pier to the Blaskets, weather permitting.

Explore the Great Blasket Islands

Welcome to Blasket Ferry & Island Tours. Travel with us and explore the Great Blasket Islands. Our purpose built Ferry, La Gem, was built with the safety and comfort of our passengers as paramount.

Dunquin Pier to Blasket Islands

• Depart: 11:00 AM
• Return: 14:30 PM
• Depart: 12:00 PM
• Return: 15:30 PM
• Depart: 13:00 PM
• Return: 16:30 PM

La Gem is a custom built, fully licensed vessel. It can carry 12 passengers and 2 crew members. It was built by Murphy Marine Services in Valentia with the safety and comfort of our customers as paramount. The skipper is fully qualified and has an experienced deckhand with unsurpassed knowledge of the Blaskets.

Dunquin Pier to The Blasket:

We provide three ferry services a day from Dunquin Pier: For people who would like 3.5 hrs exploring the Great Blasket Islands our ferry departs Dunquin Pier at 11.00 a.m 12.00 p.m and 1.00 p.m and returns at 2.30 p.m 3.30 p.m and 4.30 p.m. The cost of this ferry service is €40 p.p

Blasket Island Gallery

Our Happy Clients!

“Lovely comfortable ferry trip from the beautiful Dunquin Pier to the Blaskets “

“Nice comfortable boat for the journey to the Blaskets.”

“Great to see so many seals from the boat”

Enjoy an Unforgettable Experience on The Great Blasket Islands

Travel with Blasket Ferry and Island Tours 

Call to book Your trip Now

• 087 360 0562

• Blasket Islands

Lifejackets & Wet Gear Provided

Booking essential, explore the wonders of the dingle peninsula with our sealife boat tour to the blasket islands, duration 2.5hr departure 9.30am age 9+ ‍, duration 2.5hr departure 12.30pm / 3:30pm age 9+ ‍, duration 2.5hr departure 6.30pm age 9+ ‍, join us for a 2.5 hour, guided boat tour departing from dingle harbour.

Book your sealife adventure today

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The little-known Irish island that nearly became space shuttle site with cathedral-like cliffs and no residents

• Emma Kilcawley Hemani
• Published : 16:27, 25 Apr 2024
• Updated : 16:27, 25 Apr 2024

TAKE a look at the stunning little Irish island with cathedral-like cliffs that nearly became a space shuttle launch site.

Inishnabro is one of the Blasket Islands, just off the coast of Kerry .

The island has an area of 121 acres and rises to 229 metres.

The name Inishnabro translates to "island of the quern/bottom grind stone".

The island is uninhabited according to the 2016 census, but has a rich history.

Many believe the island has religious notes, as the towering cliffs are known as the cathedral rocks, as they resemble the architecture of a church.

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There is only one record of someone living there dating back to the 19th century - a man named John Guiheen, according to Griffith’s Valuation.

The island is covered in meadows, moss, spongy grass and deep heather as the island is also empty of animals.

The island is just off the Dingle Peninsula, and is one of the six islands in the Blasket archipelago.

It neighbours the Great Blasket Island, Inishvickillane, Inishtooskert, Inistearaght, and Beginish.

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It has the remains of a promontory fort dating back to the Iron Age, and would have provided great defensive qualities.

The entrance to the island is very well hidden, and can only be reached by boat.

To access the island, there is a tiny hidden cove behind the sharp rocks.

It can be accessed through a narrow beach in the rocks - but it's a tight squeeze.

On the island, you are treated to stunning views of the sea along with the surrounding islands.

In 1973, American scientist Gary Hudson proposed using the island as the launch site for a new commercial space shuttle.

The islands offer seaside views and peaceful serenity all year round.

During the summer, you can visit the group of islands by boat to take a journey back in time to see how islanders lived.

There are tours around the Blasket Islands at www.marinetours.ie where you can view the island.

The Blasket Islands are also uninhabited, and has marine widlife including seals, whales, dolphins, puffins and sea birds.

Until the 1950s, the Great Blasket island was home to a fishing community.

Currently, it has a seal colony, stunning scenery and prehistoric sites, as well as many species of plants and flowers which thrive during the summer months.

And while amenities and creature comforts are scarce, it’s only a short ferry ride away from Kerry.

Rats causing havoc on offshore islands, which provide an all-you-can-eat buffet for the invaders

One study has described rats and other mammalian invaders as ‘the greatest threat to island biodiversity’, but there are causes for optimism.

In 2018 a project began to eradicate rats from the Saltee Islands off Co Wexford, which are incredibly important for a range of breeding seabirds but are perhaps most famous for their puffins. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw

In an age of extinction it can be forgotten that the rise of humanity has led to phenomenal success for some species. One of these is the brown rat, originally from the plains of northern China and Mongolia, but which has colonised virtually everywhere due to the spread of trade networks. This includes offshore islands, where rats (along with other non-native mammal predators such as mice and ferrets) have caused havoc.

Rats are a particular problem on offshore islands as these are frequently places that have been devoid of mammalian predators, something that has allowed unique populations of birds, reptiles and other animals to evolve without fear of being eaten by ground-dwelling predators. When rats arrived on these islands, they found a host of ground-nesting birds that had lost the ability to fly, or species that simply didn’t recognise them and so had developed no fear or defensive response to them. It was an all-you-can-eat buffet for the rats.

By some estimates, rats are believed to have reached 90 per cent of the world’s islands, while one scientific paper described them, along with other mammalian invaders, as “the greatest threat to island biodiversity”, with rodents in particular “likely responsible for the greatest number of extinctions and ecosystem changes”. Rats and mice will eat birds’ eggs, young chicks and, rather gruesomely, live adult birds as big as the albatross, the biggest of all seabirds.

The brown rat, originally from the plains of northern China and Mongolia, has colonised virtually everywhere due to the spread of trade networks. Photograph: Alamy/AP

There is not only a direct effect on the birds themselves, but evidence from the tropics has shown that impacts can cascade through the ecosystem. Few birds meant less dung, which meant fewer nutrients leaching into marine waters, meaning fewer, skinnier fish resulting in less healthy coral reefs off the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean.

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Another study from the remote island of Hawadax in the North Pacific found that rats had radically changed the shoreline ecosystem by removing birds, such as gulls and oystercatchers, as the apex predators, in turn allowing an abundance of small grazing animals, such as snails and limpets, which went on to significantly reduce seaweed cover.

However, there is some good news. On Hawadax the rats were eradicated in 2008, and within five years the native birds were on the rebound. After 11 years, many of the signs of wider ecosystem recovery were also positive. And success at Hawadax is not isolated. According to the Nature Conservancy , a US nonprofit environmental organisation, since 1950 there have been 900 successful animal eradications on nearly 800 islands. In a huge conservation victory, the biggest rodent eradication project ever attempted, on South Georgia in the Atlantic Ocean, was achieved in 2018. These are critically important wins in the fight to reverse biodiversity loss.

[  New €5.3m plan aims to eradicate rats and ferrets from Rathlin Island  ]

It’s not only faraway islands that are being released from invasive species. David Tierney, an ornithologist working in the scientific advice and research directorate of the National Parks & Wildlife Service, recently co-authored a milestone publication, Seabirds Count: A Census of Breeding Seabirds in Britain and Ireland (2015-2021). Between the two countries there are more than 4,000 smaller islands that are home to internationally important colonies of sea birds. Rats and other non-native mammals are an issue, though Tierney says “in absolute terms we don’t know the scale of the problem”.

“There’s a reason why a lot of our seabirds select offshore islands, and that’s to be away from the predatory mammals of the mainland,” he says. Some species are particularly vulnerable, as they nest on relatively gently sloping ground, for example Manx shearwaters, puffins and storm petrels. Others, such as gannets, are less vulnerable as they nest on steeper cliff faces that are less accessible, even to small rodents.

Invasive mink, as well as rats, are an issue on Irish islands, says Tierney. Ireland has 72 Special Protection Areas, which are legally designated for at least one seabird species. However, we do not have an inventory of which islands are particularly affected by invasive species. This is harder than it seems. “It’s easy when you find an island with mink or rats on it to say, ‘We have a problem’, but proving a negative – that you don’t have them – is very difficult.”

He notes that mink were discovered on the Blasket Islands and nearby Puffin Island and were successfully removed, but this is no guarantee they won’t be back. “It’s a rolling programme,” says Tierney. There are house mice on Skellig Micheal, which have been a problem elsewhere, and efforts are being made to ascertain if they are impacting the nocturnal, burrow-nesting storm petrels, a small bird that travels immense distances at sea but is near defenceless on land. Thankfully, “there are no red flags just yet”, he says.

In 2018, the NPWS began a project to eradicate rats from the Saltee Islands off Co Wexford. These are incredibly important islands for a range of breeding seabirds but are perhaps most famous for their puffins. “Back in 2017 we went to Great Saltee to check on the puffins. In every single burrow we checked, there were no puffins in them,” says Tierney.

This is potentially catastrophic. In 2000 it was estimated that 1,522 puffins were on Great Saltee, but by 2017 this had collapsed to only 120. Eradication of the rats consisted of baiting traps across the island with an approved rodenticide. Since then, extensive surveys, including DNA testing of some suspect droppings, have shown no evidence of rats. It is too early to say what effect this will have on the puffins and other birds as they are relatively long-lived, but there is reason to be optimistic. It is hoped now that other islands around our coast can receive similar treatment.

Arctic tern chicks take flight from the main island of Dalkey

Separately, BirdWatch Ireland has been engaged with a project on the Dalkey Islands, just 300m off the coast of Dublin. These islands not only have rats but feral goats and rabbits. Tara Adcock is their urban birds officer. “We’ve seen on Dalkey Islands first-hand how when rats arrive, they just decimate the entire population of seabirds. During the last breeding season in 2023 we had 45 breed pairs of Arctic terns, but no chicks. The reason for that is that rats had made it back on to the island”.

BirdWatch Ireland had been involved in an EU-funded project to eradicate rats from the islands, in the hope that they would provide a refuge for the endangered roseate tern, which breeds in numbers off Rockabill, an island to the north of the county that is the most important breeding colony for that bird in northwest Europe. Having an extra breeding colony would provide some insurance, should anything happen at Rockabill, such as an outbreak of avian flu. In the end, when the rats were dealt with on Dalkey Islands, it was their close relative, the Artic tern, that showed up. However, the islands are within swimming distance for a rat, while the arrival of people and boats can inadvertently bring the rodents ashore. All it takes is one pregnant female to wipe out a colony.

It shows the challenges for keeping these islands rat-free. More recently, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, which is the landowner, has taken over the project. Rodenticide treatment over the winter of 2023-2024 is hoped to have once again dealt with the issue. But it will be an ongoing undertaking.

“We have to fund eradication projects and have enough funding over the long term to monitor and respond to issues as they arise,” says Adcock. “We did see at Dalkey Island how these interventions can make a massive difference. When I came on to the island in 2018 there were 30 odd pairs of terns, but no chicks. It was unbelievably depressing. That winter we did all the rat eradication work and suddenly we had all these chicks, and actually surviving to fly off the island. It did show just how these measures can have really quick results.”

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