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Ireland’s Islands Saol na n-Oileáin
Rathlin Island
Not alone are islands at the mercy of the sea, but
for strategic, military, economic reasons – or , as
a result of the lack of appreciation of invaluable culture
and tradition on the islands- they are often treated as
commodities. Not as living communities with their own
distinct way of life, minority language and culture as on
the Blaskets and Tory Island.
The Islanders who lost their home
The coral island community of Diego Garcia Island, a
population of 5,000 was removed in the early 1970’s
so that this Island in the Indian Ocean could become a
military base operated by the U.S., and owned by Britain.
Evacuated against their will to Mauritius 1,000 miles
away, their tiny coral home was turned into one of
the biggest military bases in the world next to Pearl
harbor. Boasting a population of 4,000 U.S. Servicemen,
the 20 square miles island has been treated as a
commodity ever since Britain bought it for £3 million
from Mauritius. The Ilois as Diego Garcia islanders are
called, are forbidden to return to their island home. In
fact, no visitor is allowed to land on this island which
is now classified as Top Secret. Across the entrance to
the military compound is a large sign in capital letters,
“Welcome to the Footprint of Freedom”.
Let us appreciate the invaluable tradition and
culture; the preciousness of our Island communities.
Inishmurray Island, for example, was evacuated in
1948. Local authorities, led by the local priest organised
the evacuation. “It was with great reluctance that the
islanders agreed to it. The older people especially deeply
regretted this in later years.” In 1948, the population
of Inismurray numbered 48 people – more than a 50%
decrease in 100 years from 1880 when 102 are recorded
as having lived there. Today Inishmurray Island is a
designated bird sanctuary. Gola Island ( of the popular
traditional Irish song “Báidín Fhéilimidh”) and Cruit
Island are other Island communities who have been
“evacuated” around our coast.
The final and sad evacuation of the internationally
famous Blasket Islands followed in 1953. A living culture
once existed on each of these islands and sadly today
exists only in the form of artifacts, stories, song and
memory. One Blasket Islander despite having been
instrumental in the islands’ evacuation has admitted to
recalling the Island every day, missing what has been lost
to all.
“Peig Sayers, the famous Blasket Island writer told me
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from her hospital bed, that if the minimum had been
provided on her island home – water, electricity, a pier,
a ferry – the community would have remained on the
island.” Father Diarmaid O Peicin
When faced with the fate of these Island communities,
it forces us to recognise an unpleasant truth. It the
incessant march of Progress for Civilization has meant
Centralisation, Homogenisation the loss of cultures,
tradition and community – is it truly deserving of our
allegiance?
Today, as a human family, we face a turning point of
great potential. No longer can we continue blindly and
irresponsibly ignoring our inalienable debt to life itself,
the environment as we are it’s keepers,or the needs of
our children.
What an island represents is self awareness, intensity,
independence sustainability and escape.
http://homepage.eircom.net/~theislandtrust/islands.htm
Situated 4km from Crossmolina on the R315,
on the grounds of Enniscoe Estate
Attractions at Mayo North Heritage Centre:
• Family History Unit. • Enniscoe Ornamental Garden.
• Woodland Trails/Loop Walks. • Agricultural Museum
• Enniscoe Organic Garden. • Heritage Shop.
• Pleasure Grounds and Mausoleum.
It is possible to spend the day, or indeed days, here exploring the woodland walks,
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are in North Mayo you may commission research from the family history unit and may
then be able to visit the places that your ancestors left many generations ago.
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Mayo NorTthelF: a(0m9i6l)y3H1e8r0i9tage Ce|ntreE,mEaninl:isconeo, rCthamstaleyhoi@llg, mBaailll.icnoam, Co Mayo.
If you wish, you may FstoaryfuinrthhiesrtoinrifcorEmnantiisocno,ecoHnotuascet 0o9r6i/n31a1s1e2lf-catering apartment.