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09 Jan 2026

Fancy living on a remote island? Rare job opportunity opens on Great Blasket Islands

Former caretakers have described the experience as both 'challenging and transformative'

Fancy living on a remote island? Rare job opportunity opens on Great Blasket Islands

For those dreaming of a simpler life, far removed from emails, early morning commutes and the stress of everyday life, an unusual opportunity has re-emerged off the coast of Kerry.

Two people are being sought to live and work on the beautiful, but remote, Blasket Islands, for the upcoming tourist season.

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The Great Blasket Island, once home to a small but vibrant Irish-speaking community, has been uninhabited since 1953. Today it remains a place of raw natural beauty, reachable only by boat and entirely dependent on weather.

The roles, advertised by the island's caretakers, typically involve running visitor facilities, which include running a café, welcoming tourists, maintaining the property and generally managing day-to-day life on the island during peak season.

Successful applicants must be prepared for total isolation, with no shops, no nightlife and limited contact with the mainland. Electricity and running water are scarce, and strong winds, sudden storms and cancelled boat crossing are part of daily life.

In return, residents are rewarded with breathtaking views, quiet evenings, wildlife encounters with dolphins, seals, basking sharks and even whales, and a rare chance to disconnect from everyday life.

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Previous island caretakers have described the experience as both challenging and transformative, a real test of resilience. Couples or close friends are usually best suited for the roles as living together in such close quarters and harsh surroundings requires patience and adaptability.

As with previous years, applications are expected to be competitive, and those selected will be committing not just to a job, but to a way of life.

To apply for the role, visit the website here

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