A young couple have been chosen to live and look after accomodation on the Great Blasket Island.
The Great Blasket Island, located four kilometres off the coast of west Kerry, is renowned for both a rich literary heritage and a striking natural beauty.
Home to flocks of sheep and a protected colony of grey seals, the island has now welcomed its newest inhabitants, caretakers Niamh Kelleher and Jack Cakebread, who have quickly fallen in love with the remote outpost.
Jack Cakebread, who is based in La Rochelle in France, and Niamh Kelleher from County Limerick secured what many would consider a dream job, taking on the role of custodians of the accommodation and café on An Blascaod Mór for the summer of 2021.
The island accommodation is owned by the family of Billy O’Connor, who have held property on the Great Blasket since the 1970s. When Billy O’Connor advertised for caretakers earlier this year, he was inundated with applications from around the world.
We were simply looking for a friendly couple who aren’t afraid of a bit of hard work.
Niamh Kelleher and Jack Cakebread will receive a wage for maintaining the island’s rented cottages and, in return, will also live on the Great Blasket rent‑free. The couple are looking forward to the unique experience and to creating memories that come with living in such an extraordinary setting. Together for just over two years, they believe their time on the island will be unforgettable.
With the easing of COVID‑19 restrictions, ferry services to the Great Blasket Island are expected to resume in the coming weeks, marking the beginning of a busy summer ahead.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 21 May 2021. The reporter is Paschal Sheehy.
