TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar and Patrick O’Donovan, Minister of State for the Office of Public Works, were in Kerry on Saturday to see the Office of Public Works’ ongoing restoration works on An Blascaod Mór (the Great Blasket) and attend the annual ‘Ceiliúradh an Bhlascaoid’ commemoration.
Speaking after his visit to the Great Blasket and attending the commemoration, the Taoiseach said: “The Blasket Islands are one of the most beautiful places in Ireland and are a priceless cultural asset. I really don’t know why I hadn’t made the trip before now. ”
“Visiting the Great Blasket is like stepping into a different time and place. It’s living history and heritage. It’s essential that we preserve the island and its villages, as an irreplaceable legacy, and a unique tourism asset.”
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“The OPW is conducting essential work to conserve and protect the Great Blasket so that visitors, whether from Ireland or overseas, can appreciate the astonishing beauty and heritage of these islands, and the richness of their culture. Our focus now is on improving the landing facilities on the island and the Island itself, in a way that protects nature and wildlife,” said An Taoiseach.
The Taoiseach and Minister O’Donovan visited the former home on the Great Blasket of author Tomás Ó Criomhthain, which has been restored by the Office of Public Works (OPW).
They also attended the Annual ‘Ceiliúradh an Bhlascaoid’ at the OPW’s Ionad an Bhlascaoid/The Blasket Centre, which has been fully restored. This annual three-day gathering on the history and heritage of the Blasket Islands was founded in 1996. This year its focus was on youth on the island – Turas go Tír na nÓg – Óige an Bhlascaoid Mhóir agus Sliocht an Oileáin i gCéin (A Trip to the Land of Youth: Youth on the Great Blasket and Island families abroad).
.Lorcán Ó Cinnéde, Manager, Ionad an Bhlascaoid, with Katy Morris Roe, OPW, left, Mary Stack, Fáilte Ireland, with The Minister for State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works Patrick O’Donovan, re-opened the iconic Blasket Centre (Ionad an Bhlascaoid) in Dún Chaoinon Monday. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
A NEW visitor experience has officially opened at the Blasket Islands, following an investment of €2.9million from Fáilte Ireland, the Office of Public Works and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The Minister for State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works Patrick O’Donovan and Máire Ní Shúilleabháin Uí Chíobháin, daughter of famed Blasket author Muiris Ó Súilleabháin, re-opened the iconic Blasket Centre (Ionad an Bhlascaoid) in Dún Chaoin on the Western edge of the Dingle Peninsula.
Adjacent to the recently opened viewing platform with spectacular views over the Blasket Islands, the project includes a total transformation of the Centre’s exhibitions to deliver an authentic, and imaginative re-telling of the story of the Blasket islands, their rich heritage and their literature which is of national and international significance.
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The Blasket Centre is a flagship visitor attraction for County Kerry and is expected to attract 63,000 visitors to the region by Year 5 of opening.
Fáilte Ireland, the Office of Public Works and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage have together invested €2.9million in the Centre.
The Centre has been designated as a Wild Atlantic Way Signature Discovery Point, and together with the walkway and viewing platform, which opened to the public in 2020, offers dramatic views of the Blasket Island archipelago and the Atlantic coastline.
Cast In the Shadows…Seán Ó Cearna, the youngest and only living Blasket Islander, looking at his Uncle, Seán Sheáin Í Chearnaigh Islander, with The Minister for State, ( Office of Public Works) Patrick O’Donovan, cast in the shadows of an illustration of Blasket Islander, at the Official opening of Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhóir, Daingean Ui Chúis, Co Chiarraí /The Blasket Centre on Monday. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
The Centre provides direct employment for 20 people when in operation and will support over 250 additional jobs in this Gaeltacht region.
Welcoming the official opening of the centre, Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin TD said; “The story of the Blasket Islands is one of great interest to domestic and international audiences. The renewed visitor experience at the Blasket Centre is an exciting and imaginative opportunity for visitors to engage with the richness of that culture.”
Patrick O’Donovan, T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, added: “I am delighted to reopen the Blasket Centre – Ionad an Bhlascaoid – here in Dún Chaoin today. It is a stunning piece of architecture in itself and is now home to a totally new exhibition that tells the story of the Blasket Islands in an imaginative multi-media experience. It also pays homage to the significant cultural footprint the islanders left in a series of books documenting their lives.” Scroll down for photos…
The Minister for State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works Patrick O’Donovan and Máire Ní Shúilleabháin Uí Chíobháin (centre), daughter of famed Blasket author Muiris Ó Súilleabháin, and Katy Morrisroe, OPW, who re-opened the iconic Blasket Centre (Ionad an Bhlascaoid) in Dún Chaoin on Monday. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan.Máire Ní Shúilleabháin Uí Chíobháin, daughter of famed Blasket author Muiris Ó Súilleabháin, at the re-opening of the iconic Blasket Centre (Ionad an Bhlascaoid) in Dún Chaoin on Monday. Photo: Valerie O’SullivanIslanders…Maírín Uí Shé, Cathair an Treanntaigh, stands beside the illustrations of her Uncle Seán Feilí Ó Cathaín and grandfather, Muirís Ó Catháin. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan.Lúc Ó Dálaigh, listening to Minister for State, ( Office of Public Works) Patrick O’Donovan, at the Official opening of Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhóir, Daingean Ui Chúis, Co Chiarraí /The Blasket Centreon Monday. Photo: Valerie O’SullivanLorcán Ó Cinnéde, Manager, Ionad an Bhlascaoid, with staff and guide members meeting the Minister for State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works Patrick O’Donovan. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan.The Minister for State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works Patrick O’Donovan and Máire Ní Shúilleabháin Uí Chíobháin, daughter of famed Blasket author Muiris Ó Súilleabháin, re-opened the iconic Blasket Centre (Ionad an Bhlascaoid) in Dún Chaoin on Monday. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
.Róisin, left, Ruarí and Cibéal Ó hÓgáin, from Dun Chaoin, Chorca Dhuibhne, at the new Wild Atlantic Way Viewing point at the clifftop site of the OPW run Ionad an Bhlascaoid (Blasket Centre) in Dún Chaoin in the West Kerry Gaeltacht. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
THE new spectacular Wild Atlantic Way Viewing point at the clifftop site of the OPW-run Ionad an Bhlascaoid (Blasket Centre) in Dún Chaoin in the West Kerry Gaeltacht was opened today by Patrick O’Donovan T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW)
The addition to the tourism infrastructure of the Dingle Peninsula, designed by Paul Arnold Architects was built by the Office of Public Works under a strategic partnership with Fáilte Ireland.
The Viewing platform is part of a major programme of investment of €2,610,794 in the Blaskets by the strategic partnership of Fáilte Ireland, the OPW and the Department of Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht.
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The overall project includes the restoration of the original house on the Great Blasket Island of the renowned Island writer Tomás Ó Criomhthain, the development of a walkway and viewing platform at the clifftop site and a major upgrade of the exhibition at Ionad an Bhlascaoid.
The new Wild Atlantic Way Viewing point at the clifftop site of the OPW run Ionad an Bhlascaoid (Blasket Centre) in Dún Chaoin in the West Kerry Gaeltacht. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
Minister O’Donovan said “The Viewing Point is the first phase of a major re-development of the Blasket Centre, which was originally built in 1993 in conjunction with locally based Fondúireacht an Bhlascaoid. We are at an advanced stage on a major upgrade of the exhibitions at Ionad an Bhlascaoid which is due to commence in October, and will be opened in 2021. This represents a serious commitment by the OPW to the heritage and culture of An Blascaod Mór which, will strengthen its role in this Gaeltacht area and showcase the cultural heritage of these islands and its inhabitants for visitors both from home and abroad.
The new Wild Atlantic Way Viewing point at the clifftop site of the OPW run Ionad an Bhlascaoid (Blasket Centre) in Dún Chaoin in the West Kerry Gaeltacht. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
WE’VE brought you drone footage of our wonderful coastline in the last couple of weeks, but now our defence forces have come up with more great shots.
We recently stumbled across some absolutely breathtaking photos that had been taken over the last year by the Irish Air Corps.
The photos feature landmarks from all over the country but here, we will focus on the excellent images that show off The Kingdom in style.
In them, we can see Ballybunion Castle, Slea Head, The Blasket Islands, and The Skellig Islands.
Scroll down to see the photos for yourself…
The Castle Green in Ballybunion.
A rare view of the Blasket Islands as seen from the South West.
The Skellig Islands, Co. Kerry, with UNESCO heritage site of Skellig Michael in the foreground.
Some of the coast on the Slea Head Drive, on the Dingle Peninsula. The photo is just North of Dunquin, with Brandon Mountain in the background.The Skelligs on a Winter’s day.
