Decolonising the Blaskets: Displacement and Island Resistance

The Blasket Islands, stranded off the coast of Ireland's County Kerry, represent far more than a wild getaway; they are a monument to systemic abandonment and a site of quiet resistance against extractive capitalism. The 1953 evacuation of the Irish-speaking community was not merely a natural consequence of harsh weather, but a failure of the state to support marginalized populations. Today, caretakers like Aisling and Conor challenge the commodification of this landscape by living in reciprocal tandem with the land.

What does the name Blasket reveal about colonial histories?

Watching the waves thrash the jagged coastline, it becomes evident how the islands across the three-mile sound acquired their name. The Blaskets translate to