How to stay on Ireland's most remote islands for a wild weekend away

The Blasket Islands off County Kerry, Ireland, are described as one of Western Europe’s wildest fronts with Great Blasket being the largest of six islands. The piece blends travel narrative with a stay on the islands, where permanent residents have given way to a six-month residency program; hosts Aisling and Conor manage the island café and three rental cottages, one of which serves as the narrator’s overnight home. Accommodations are basic: no hot water or mains electricity, power supplied by a small turbine, yet guests enjoy essentials like a gas stove, coal fire, and bay views. Wildlife sightings include puffins, grey seals, dolphins, and a passing Minke whale, underscoring the islands’ untamed allure.