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Blasket Islands: A Kingdom of Stories
The Blasket Islands are famous for their writers, lore and unique location off the south-west tip of Ireland. This book is perfect for anyone who wants to explore the Great Blasket Island, learn its history and discover what has captivated visitors and residents in this special place.
A beautifully illustrated and compelling history of the life, traditions and customs of an isolated community that has now disappeared. The book traces the fate of the Blasket people and the slow erosion of their culture to that sad day in 1952 when the families were evacuated from the Great Blasket Island.
A beautifully illustrated and compelling history of the life, traditions and customs of an isolated community that has now disappeared. The book traces the fate of the Blasket people and the slow erosion of their culture to that sad day in 1952 when the families were evacuated from the Great Blasket Island.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1980
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 29, 2025
Anyone with an interest in the Blasket Islands will enjoy this detailed overview. An objective work produced after years of study and conversation with the last of the Islanders. The authors narrative is a worthy contribution to all that has been written about these captivating parcels of land, their inhabitants, and a way of life shared by few. Some of whom, achieved a great measure of their own literary fame.
December 6, 2019
If you wanna immerse into the history of the Blasket Islands, get to know facts and figures, names and numbers, tales and stories and yet learn about historical backgrounds and the evolution of the Blasket Islands, this is the ideal book to do so.
I believe there are different guides and documents providing information about the Blasket Islands as well, but this book summarises it all in a most charming way.
You can sense the love of Joan and Ray Stagles had for this special place on earth by the quality of their research and the way they brought it all on paper.
The original book was first released in 1980 and this fourth revised editions has been published posthumously this year.
It's definitely a good read !
I believe there are different guides and documents providing information about the Blasket Islands as well, but this book summarises it all in a most charming way.
You can sense the love of Joan and Ray Stagles had for this special place on earth by the quality of their research and the way they brought it all on paper.
The original book was first released in 1980 and this fourth revised editions has been published posthumously this year.
It's definitely a good read !
October 5, 2020
Uncomplicated and largely rose-tinted account of a much loved island.
August 18, 2024
A solid overview of a fascinating place & its people.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews