An uninhabited island is looking for two intrepid people to run a coffee shop during the spring and summer, even though there’s one significant obstacle. The picturesque island of Great Blasket, located off the coast of Dunquin, near Dingle in the Republic of Ireland, is looking for a couple to run the island’s café and guest accommodation.
The responsibilities of the role
Caretakers will be responsible for overseeing three holiday cottages, cleaning and painting, looking after visitors and of course making tea and coffee, as well as taking care of the day-to-day management.
In what is sure to please those longing for an off-grid existence, wildlife haven Great Blasket Island boasts no permanent inhabitants, although that won’t leave keepers idle.
The job advert states that the caretaker’s role is to manage the café and 3 holiday cottages on Great Blasket Island. This involves welcoming and welcoming overnight guests, cleaning and painting three holiday cottages, serving tea, coffee and snacks to day visitors from the café and ensuring daily tasks are carried out correctly.
The required requirements
The announcement specifies that we are looking for a hard-working, responsible and reliable couple, with great interpersonal skills and a spirit of initiative. It is also emphasized that this is not a holiday job. The season can be very busy and candidates will have to be on their feet for much of the day.
Further on, the listing highlights the demanding nature of the role, warning that the island can get very crowded and describing it as an intense location, with keepers having to accept that the location offers very little in the way of resources.
Period and conditions of work
Suitable candidates should plan to reach the island during the last week of March; the season extends from April 1st to mid-October, weather permitting.
On another note about the weather, the announcement states that rest days are determined by it. For example, a prolonged period of bad weather could mean an inability to set sail, while four weeks of sunshine could again mean a busy period for keepers.
The advantages of the offer
However, the job is not without its benefits, as caretakers will be able to benefit from accommodation and food in addition to their salary, although it is important to point out that alcohol and toiletries are not part of the daily expense.
As in the previous year, successful candidates will stay in the accommodation above the café and will have access to the site’s kitchen. In a separate note on their duties, the application also acknowledges that DIY or general maintenance work is encouraged in the event of extended periods of bad weather or days off.
The island and its history
Designated as a Special Area of Conservation, the island extends four miles and covers more than 1,100 acres. Deprived of residents since 1953, Great Blasket Island was once among the most isolated Irish-speaking regions of Corca Dhuibhne.
A paradise for wildlife
One of the island’s main attractions is its wildlife: lucky visitors might spot a wide range of species, including Riviera dolphins, common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins, as well as basking sharks, gray seals and whales.
The island also boasts a diverse variety of birds, including gannets, puffins, Arctic terns, guillemots and cormorants.
