THE annual outing of the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society took place to the Great Blasket Island.

The trip also saw the 80- strong group commemorate the 50th anniversary of the evacuation of the island.

Taking part were the group’s president Emmet Kennelly, county librarian Kay Browne, historian and author Fr Anthony Gaughan, Lauragh native Jerh. Lyne, keeper of manuscripts at the National Museum, former president of the society and event organiser Tadhg Ó Coileáin.

Former Dún Chaoin school principal and local historian Mícheál Ó Dubhsláine gave the group a very comprehensive lecture on the island and its history as well as taking them on a walking tour of the area which encompassed the ruined homes of the Great Blasket writers and other important historical sites on the island.

The Blasket Islands (pictured above) form the most westerly land in Europe. Inhabited for thousands of years, they were finally abandoned in 1953 when their last dwellers were moved to the mainland in Dún Chaoin.

On the Great Blasket life has stood still, there is no electricity, no cars, no television, or phones – only the sound of the sea, the cry of the gulls, unspoilt beaches, extraordinary flora and fauna and a uniquely peaceful atmosphere.

No similar-sized community in any part of the world has produced such a wealth of literature. The great writings are referred to as the "Blasket Library", which includes classics such as The Islandman, Twenty Years A-Growing and Peig. The magnificent Great Blasket Centre on the mainland in Dún Chaoin, directly across from the island, is a fascinating interpretative centre/ museum honouring the unique community which once called this remote island home.

Plans to have the island designated a national heritage site are now progressing favourably.

Life was always hard on the Great Blasket. The land was not very fertile, but each household grew its own potato crop, kept a cow and a very limited flock of sheep on the island’s hills.

Turf was cut on the highest point and drawn home in baskets by a donkey. The sea provided the mainstay of the island’s economy. Fresh and salted fish made up a large proportion of the diet, and lobster and mackerel were sold to the Dingle fish merchants.

All cooking was done over an open fire, which also their source of heat and which was kept going all the year round. It was an extremely hard life and the islanders’ only contact was the outside world was when they embarked on a naomhóg (currach) crossing to Dún Chaoin.

Mícheál Ó Dubhsláine in his address attributed much credit to the visit of John Millington Synge and schools inspector Brian Ó Ceallaigh to the island in 1905 as well as Robin Flower who gave huge encouragement to the locals to get involved in writing.

The group travelled out from Dún Chaoin Pier and enjoyed a very pleasant day on the island. Tadhg Ó Coileáin thanked Mícheál for his excellent lecture and tour and he also thanked all who had come to the very historic island.