IRISH ODYSSEY - DAY 5

IRISH ODYSSEY... DAY 5 ... JULY 01 2012.....

First things first.  Our electric came on about 6:30 last evening.  It has blinked a couple of times since then, but we have power!  I find it hard to believe that there are over 3 million people without power, and that Ohio and West Virginia have declared an emergency.  It was one massive storm that moved through our area.

Today I will talk about day 5.  We left our hotel in Killarney and toured the scenic Dingle Peninsula, viewing mountains, beaches, rocky headlands.  Later in the day we arrived in Dunquin at the Blasket Island Centre to learn about the off-shore Blasket Islands.

Now uninhabited, the Islands were once home to a small community, cut off from the rest of
Ireland by the two miles of sea forming the Blasket Sound.

All supplies were carried by boat.  Sometimes the inhabitants were marooned for weeks at a time, especially in the stormy winter months.  They maintained their own school, church, and life-style.

Gradually the younger Islanders made their way to the mainland and eventually in 1953 the last remaining islanders left the Great Blasket Island.

The Islands were a Gaelic-speaking community, settling on the island in the early 1900's.  Many of the Islanders wrote, and had published, books pertaining to life on the Great Blasket.

There is evidence of prehistoric dwellings on Great Blaskett, but the village was built on the side of the island facing the mainland.  The little houses huddle against the hillside for shelter, with their gable walls facing the sea.

Apart from a couple of the houses being maintained for use by summer visitors, all the houses have now fallen into ruins.

Upon leaving Dunquin, we returned to Killarny for out last night there.  In the morning it would be off for another adventure.  What a trip.

So much history.  So much hardship.  So much determination.  And we just touched the tip of the iceberg.

I have some neighbor friends that are going to tour Scotland and Ireland with the same travel agency that we were with, and will be anxious to compare notes on their trip.

Well, about time for Church.  It has been so long since I have been there that I may not have my seat.  Or else will have to sign the visitors log.

Have a great day and God Bless.