Today, we got to go visit the Blasket Island Centre, which I researched a few days ago. It was really cool to actually visit this place and see all of the cool aspects of it. The Centre really has a wealth of information in the Blasket people. Not only did it cover the ways of life of these people, it contained many pieces from their extensive Irish language literary tradition.
Thomas O'Crohan (Tomás Ó Criomhthain in Irish), a native Blasket Islander started the writing tradition from the Great Blasket. In the 1920s, the islanders had learned Irish as their first language, but only knew how to read and write in English, due to the bans on teaching Irish in schools. Many of these people had fascinating stories of life on the islands, and several scholars realized that these stories would be lost if they were not written down. One particular man, Brian Ó Ceallaigh from Killarney came to the Great Blasket and, in the aftermath of WW1, convinced Thomas O'Crohan to write his memoirs. O'Crohan began writing in 1918, and finished his first book, "The Islandman" in 1923. It was published in 1929, and was extremely successful. Many realized the value of these tales, and O'Crohan was widely acclaimed. Other islanders, seeing the possibilities of writing their stories down began to do the same. This movement created one of the most complete accounts of this type of lifestyle, as well as Irish language literature we have today.
Thomas O'Crohan (Tomás Ó Criomhthain in Irish), a native Blasket Islander started the writing tradition from the Great Blasket. In the 1920s, the islanders had learned Irish as their first language, but only knew how to read and write in English, due to the bans on teaching Irish in schools. Many of these people had fascinating stories of life on the islands, and several scholars realized that these stories would be lost if they were not written down. One particular man, Brian Ó Ceallaigh from Killarney came to the Great Blasket and, in the aftermath of WW1, convinced Thomas O'Crohan to write his memoirs. O'Crohan began writing in 1918, and finished his first book, "The Islandman" in 1923. It was published in 1929, and was extremely successful. Many realized the value of these tales, and O'Crohan was widely acclaimed. Other islanders, seeing the possibilities of writing their stories down began to do the same. This movement created one of the most complete accounts of this type of lifestyle, as well as Irish language literature we have today.
The dedication the Centre has for preserving the way of the Blasket people is amazing. Though these people may have had to leave their island, their culture will be passed on and remembered by generations to come. I found this very touching. The fact that these people care so much for cultural preservation is amazing, and inspiring. We here of so many cultures that are destroyed by the modern age, it is refreshing to see that the opposite is possible. While it is regrettable that the Blasket population was so decimated by emigration over time, it is heartening to see their traditions and culture live on through the work of those at the Blasket Island Centre.