The Blaskets

Off the south-west coast of Ireland, in the Atlantic Ocean, lies a group of islands known as the Blaskets. You can approach the Blasket Islands off the coast of Kerry by sea, travelling in over the treacherous Blasket Sound - An Bealach. That is one way to make the acquaintance of this remote, now uninhabited, and wildly beautiful archipelago. Or you can visit the Blaskets in spirit, delving into the remarkable small library of books that has made these islands famous in world literature. In this book, Muiris MacConghail, journalist, film-maker and Blasket enthusiast, opens up the Blasket Islands by both routes. Why did such a small, peasant community produce such a flowering of literary talent? How did these stories - stories of a simple people eking out a living on the very edge of Europe, written in a dying language - reach the bookshelves of the world? Who were the scholars and literary mentors that encouraged these talents into print? This lavishly illustrated volume tells the story in words and pictures and contains many fine photographs, most of which have never been published before.

Review :
"'This is a scrupulously scholarly and warmly affectionate history of that extraordinary Irish literary phenomenon of the twentieth century - the flowering of the Blasket school of autobiographical writing. For me, the Homeric figure of Tomas O Criomhthain will always dominate this scene and his pre-eminence is acknowledged here; also, however, even the slightest of Island offerings, including some as yet unpublished, are sensitively and appreciatively chronicled in this work. Further, the generous element of encouragement from outside the community, which set the flow in motion - Synge, Marstrander, Flower, O Ceallaigh, Thomson, Jackson. An Seabhac - come alive in these pages. To their names must now be added that of Muiris MacConghail, who in this truly pious undertaking, has demonstrated so conclusively the coming of age of the Irish language of Corca Dhuibhne as a modern literary medium on the Great Blasket.' MAIRE MHAC AN TSAOI, WRITES 'Muiris MacConghail shows a compelling insight into the Island writers, their writings, and the succession of distinguished scholars who motivated them on the Great Blasket Island and so gives the reader the experience of having been there, and wanting to return.' MARIA SIMONDS-GOODING, PAINTER 'The author deftly sails amongst the Blaskets, bringing to life topography and past. This sets the scene for the building of the "Blasket library", fruit of the marriage between creative outsiders - O Ceallaigh, Flower, Thomson, Jackson - and gifted Islanders, O Criomhthain, O Suilleabhain and Sayers. The story is a marvel told with commitment and love.' TOM BARRINGTON.AUTHOR OF DISCOVERING KERRY"