The Great Blasket Island lies 3km off the the Dingle Peninsula in West Kerry, Ireland. It provides the perfect vantage point from which to view the surrounding countryside of Slea Head, Mount Eagle, Mount Brandon, Sybil Head, and the Three Sisters. There are some amazing views from the island stretching as far as the Skellig Rocks, the Iveragh Peninsula (Ring of Kerry) with the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks and Valentia Island.
Phone:
(+) 353 (0) 87 2316131 (booking office)
(+) 353 (0) 66 9154864 (manager, skipper)
Email:
ferryandtours@blasketislands.ie
Website:
Ferry to Blasket Island
The ferry to the Great Blasket
Island takes approximately 15 minutes each way. Passengers are given a set of return times which enables them to spend as much or as little time on the island as they wish.
Please note: Booking is Essential!
How To Find Dun Chaoin Pier
Dun Chaoin Pier is hidden from view. You take the coast road west from Dingle to Slea Head, round the headland and travel towards Ballyferriter. Dun Chaoin Pier is about 4kms from Slea Head, after Coomeenole cove, and before the Blasket Islands Heritage Centre at Dun Chaoin. Look out for a brown fingerpost sign saying Dun Chaoin Pier. The booking hut is on the top of the pier.
Schedule:
The ferries “Blasket Princess” and “An Blascaod Mor” depart Dunquin (Dun Chaoin) every day from Easter to October (weather dependent).
The skipper is Mick Sheeran. He has all the relevant Department of Marine qualifications and commercial endorsements and has over 30 years experience fishing, ferrying, and sailing in the area waters. He has brought over 100,000 people to the Great Blasket Island in safety over more than a twenty-year period.
Schedule:
The ferry departs at:
9:55 a.m.
10:55 a.m.
11:55 noon
12:55 p.m.
13:55 p.m.
14:55 p.m.
15:55 p.m.
16.55 p.m.
Visitors to the Great Blasket Island can enjoy a few hours or a day walking, hiking, swimming, visiting the old village, painting, taking photos, or just relaxing and enjoying the wonderful landscapes and stunning seascapes.
There has been an abundance of literature written about the Great Blasket Island.
Some of the most well-known works include:
“The Islandman” by Tomas O Criothain
“Twenty Years A Growing”
by Maurice O’Sullivan
“Peg, My Own Story” by Peig Sayers
“The Western Isle” by Robin Flower
“The Blaskets, Next Parish America”
by Joan and Ray Stagles
“The Blaskets, A Kerry Island Library”
by Muiris Mac Conghall
An excellent place to visit after a trip to the island is the Blasket Island Heritage Centre.
There is an impressive audio and visual
documentary of island life by Muiris Mac
Conghal.
Eco Marine Adventure Tour
The Eco Marine Adventure Tour is a
2.5 hour guided boat tour around the Blasket Islands Archipelago.
The Eco Tour takes you to such places as Cathedral Rocks on Inis na Bro. and the puffin colony around Inisvickalaun, the island owned by former Irish Prime Minister Charley Haughey. On the most remote of all the islands, Tearacht, from the boat you can see the westernmost lighthouse and the steepest funicular rail track in Europe, with all the buildings set in the steep, rocky face of the island. On the Great Blasket Island, the unspoilt system of field division from the 18th century Rundale System is obvious.
A large variety of wildlife can often be seen such as dolphins, sharks, whales, sunfish, puffins, terns, cormorants, shags, guillemots, gulls, choughs, etc. There are approximately 600 seals living in the colony on the Great Blasket Island. The flat island of Beginnis
is a bird sanctuary.
The islands’ natural architecture is extremely impressive from the boat.
The Eco Tours depart at 12 noon and
15 hours sharp.
The Eco Tour can be combined with a visit to the Blasket Islands for no extra charge. Either take the regular ferry service and get picked up from the island for a tour, or take the tour and then get dropped off at the island for an hour.
There are special rates for groups of over eight people and families. Blasket Islands Ferry also welcomes special interest groups such as bird watching, whale watching, photography and corporate charter (for half or full day).
Booking is essential!
Boat charter trips are also available around Dingle Bay, the Blasket Islands, or
Valentia Island. For group charter or
special trips, call (+) 353 (0) 86 3353805
Trish
