A Selected List of Books About the Blasket Islands
MacConghail, Muiris. The Blaskets – People and Literature: A Kerry Island Library. Dublin: TownHouse, 1987; 2006.
MacDonogh, Steve. The Dingle Peninsula. Dingle: Brandon Books, 2000.
Matson, Leslie. Meini : The Blasket Nurse. Cork: Mercier Press, 1996.
Moreton, Cole. Hungry for Home – Leaving the Blaskets: A Journey from the Edge of Ireland. NY: Viking, 2000.
Ó Dubhsláine, Mícheál. A Dark Day on the Blaskets. Dingle: Brandon Books, 2003.
A Dark Day on the Blaskets is a book written by the Dun Quinn school teacher. It tells the very sad story of a very special young lady whose many visits to the Great Blasket Island in search of Island culture and language ending in her tragic death.
By: Tommy Moore on March 2, 2011
at 6:44 am
Thanks, Tommy; I’ve added it to the Books page.
By: judithcoe on March 2, 2011
at 11:15 am
Hi Judith Coe,
Just wondering if you have heard of or read ‘Meini: The Blasket Nurse,’ by Leslie Matson. It’s the story of Meini Dunleavy, born in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts (where I live) and returned to Dunquin, Ireland as a young girl with her mother after her father died. She ended up marrying an island man and living most of her life there. It’s a wonderful story. You might add it to your list!
I look forward to meeting you on your visit to Springfield this week.
Regards,
Mary Ellen
By: Mary Ellen Lowney on March 2, 2011
at 11:07 pm
Thanks much, Mary Ellen. I’ve heard of the story and book, but have not yet read it – sounds wonderful. I will add it to the list, and I look forward to seeing you in a few days!
By: judithcoe on March 3, 2011
at 7:52 am