On the Edge: Ireland’s off-shore islands: a modern history

by Diarmaid Ferriter

SHORTLISTED FOR THE ONSIDE NONFICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2018 The islands off the coast of Ireland have long been a source of fascination. Seen as repositories of an ancient Irish culture and the epitome of Irish romanticism, they have attracted generations of scholars, artists and filmmakers, from James Joyce to Robert O'Flaherty, looking for a way of life uncontaminated by modernity or materialism. But the reality for islanders has been a lot more complex. They faced poverty, hardship and official hostility, even while being expected to preserve an ancient culture and way of life. Writing in her 1936 autobiography, Peig Sayers, resident of Blaskets island, described it as 'this dreadful rock'. In 1841, there were 211 inhabited islands with a combined population of 38,000; by 2011, only 64 islands were inhabited, with a total population of 8,500. And younger generations continue to leave. By documenting the island experiences and the social, cultural and political reaction to them over the last 100 years, On the Edge examines why this exodus has happened, and the gulf between the rhetoric that elevated island life and the reality of the political hostility towards them.It uncovers, through state and private archives, personal memoirs, newspaper coverage, and the author's personal travels, the realities behind the "dreadful rocks", and the significance of the experiences of, and reactions to, those who were and remain, literally, on the very edge of European civilisation.

Genres: Nonfiction, Ireland, History

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[DR THOM KLEISS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Splendid combination of scholarly research and endless humoristic narrative and understanding of the islands off Ireland. Reads like a novel - can’t make a bigger compliment. Reference work for years to come.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a history of the status of Irish islands in the 19th and 20th century. Islanders often faced isolation, unemployment, disease and starvation. After Ireland gained independence in 1921 and won the right to self governance, the islands were actually in a more precarious situation than they were under British rule. The Congested Districts Board provided economic assistance to Irish islands including food relief, building infrastructure, and more. After independence, the new Irish government was occupied with nation building, and lacked the resources to support the islands in the same way.

The new Ireland was idealistic about their historical, cultural and language heritage. There was recognition that the survival of island communities was critical for the survival of this heritage, particularly the survival of the Irish language. In the early years, De Valera lauded the islands, and particularly their linguistic importance. But the focus was on the language and the islands, while forgetting about the people and their needs. It seemed as if the government forgot that the people were crucial to the survival of the language. The Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking areas) shrunk considerably during the fifty years after independence.

The biggest challenge for islanders was finding the right agency to respond to their needs. The administration of various services from medical, to education to support for local fishing was scattered over numerous government agencies. There was a complete lack of central authority and this chaos led to the further deterioration of island communities. The book mentions, although not in great detail, the superior position of the islands of Scotland. The Highlands and Islands Board provided a central approach to all aspects of Scottish island life.

While this is not a "happy" history, it is the first comprehensive Irish history of their islands written for a popular audience. Recommended for readers interested in Irish history, language and cuilture.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book, I never really thought about this as a subject when thinking about Ireland, but Ferriter brings the cultural of these islands to light and their contribution to Irish culture and their sad decline.

[Andre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Specialist interest only but I found it to comprehensive and it helped filled in some background to Island literature and history.