News

Two people wanted for dream job on remote Irish island, as vacancy opens up for second year running

A JOB on one of Ireland's most remote and beautiful islands is up for grabs once again.

Two people are wanted for a couple of summer caretaker jobs on Great Blasket Island off the coast of Co. Kerry.

Last year over 40,000 people applied for the roles - to manage the island's accommodation and coffee shop from April through to October.

Billy O’Connor and his partner Alice Hayes, who own three cottages and a coffee shop on the island, are to post the vacancies on social media this week.

"We are going to post the jobs up again on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram this week with a link to the application form and a frequently asked questions section," Mr O’Connor said.

"We've decided to add some job criteria as last year when we started to receive applications it took us a month just to get through them.

On our visit to the Great Blasket Island we talk to descendants of islanders whose work now involves keeping their stories alive & we meet a couple who landed their dream job as caretakers on the Island @gbisland @AnnieBirney on #RTENationwide Monday 9th Nov @RTEOne 7pm @rte RT pic.twitter.com/daabpMZ7S4

— RTÉ Nationwide (@RTENationwide) November 9, 2020

"It's absolutely fantastic that so many people want to come here but many didn’t realise what the living conditions are like," he explained.

"We would like a duo of friends or a couple from abroad to get the jobs eventually as they would have a different perspective to bring, but with concerns around Covid-19 that will limit foreign applications I would think. But maybe they would feel safer on the island as it is very remote.

"We have had two Irish couples working as caretakers so far. It does get very busy on the island with visitors in the height of the summer so the people who get the job have to be able for that.

"But so far we’ve learned from the two couples who have worked as caretakers on what aspects work and do not work and how to make the visitor experience better," he said.

You'll be provided with accommodation, food and more gorgeous morning sunrises than your eyes will have ever witnessed.

You've got the town of Dingle a short boat ride away, which has more than hearty Irish food, music and people than you'll ever need, and you might even be lucky enough to spot a whale or two from your bedroom window, who knows?

Located about three miles off the coast of Dingle, Co Kerry, there's very little on the island aside from some lovely seabirds, and the occasional sunbathing seal, but it's become something of a tourist attraction, with a ferry taking a small number of people to the gorgeous lump for a good look around.

The area is a walker's paradise, with stunning views of the surrounding Kerry coastline, especially when the sun is shining. But even in the mist and the rain, Blasket can still provide some of the best natural scenes in the country.

*Keep an eye out on social media for the vacancy.