House of Irish writer Tomás Ó Criomhthain restored on island of Great Blasket

Great Blasket (An Blascaod Mór in Irish) is the principal island of the Blaskets, County Kerry, Ireland (Na Blascaodaí, Contae Chiarraí, Éire). The islands were inhabited until 1953 by a completely Irish-speaking population, and are part of the Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking region in Ireland). The inhabitants were evacuated by the government to the mainland of Ireland on 17 November 1953. 

Now the original house of the renowned Great Blasket Island writer Tomás Ó Criomhthain has been restored by the Office of Public Works and is open to the public. The house, which was derelict, had been restored to traditional standards. Tomás Ó Criomhthain (21. December 1856–1937), a native of the island, wrote two books, Allagar na h-Inise (Island Cross-Talk) written over the period 1918–23 and published in 1928, and An t-Oileánach (The Islandman), completed in 1923 and published in 1929. His books are considered classics of Irish-language literature containing portrayals of the unique way of life that existed on the Blaskets.

Images below: House of Tomás Ó Criomhthain before and after restoration. Photographs from Raidió Teilifís Éireann.

Photograph of  Tomás Ó Criomhthain