by Feargal Mac Amhlaoibh
The island of Inis Tuisceart,
one of the Blaskets, was once the home of a
monastic community, but has been largely
uninhabited for centuries.
The sea, oh the sea, is grá geal mo chroí,
Long may it roll between England and me
It's a sure guarantee that some day we'll be free,
Oh, thank God we're surrounded by water.
So goes the patriotic song from the 60s, highlighting
the ultimate independent advantage of island life: for
the island of Ireland in the context of its near
neighbour, but also for any island within the context
of the neighbouring mainland, as in the case of each of
the 13 coastal islands of Ireland. These are Rathlin,
off the Antrim coast and the only island within the
jurisdiction of Northern Island, Tory and Arranmore off
Donegal; Clare, Inisturk and Inisbiggle off Mayo;
Inisbofin and the three Aran islands off Galway; and
the Cork Islands of Beara, Whiddy, Sherkin and Cape
Clear.
These are islands with sustainable communities going
back generations; some other islands, evacuated over
the past century, are becoming reoccupied with the
establishment of holiday homes and the increasing
number of drifters seeking an alternative lifestyle.
The main group of occupied islands formed a federation
in 1984 in a concentrated effort to to gain central
government and European recognition for special
assistance. This was achieved over the following 10
years so that each island now has state funding to
assist in the employment of fulltime managers of their
cooperatives and community associations and financial
support towards their ferry services. Generous grants
are also available in the areas of housing, education,
tourism and industrial development, all resulting in a
healthy infrastructure which now sustains these
communities.
In the case of Rathlin Island, although being part of
the federation of Irish coastal islands, their greatest
support came from a most unlikely source: while the
community is 100% Roman Catholic their local MP and MEP
was none other than the now semi-retired Rev. Ian
Paisley, who secured for them the necessary funding for
an improved harbour, a wind energy electricity scheme
and improved roads and housing. Every vote counts and
he gets all 302 of them!
Gaelic is the language of six of the islands for which
they receive extra special recognition and assistance—
the Donegal islands, Inisbiggle, the Aran islands and
Cape Clear. But while each island has its own
traditions and customs, there are strong common bonds
between them all based on their individuality as island
communities.
To mention some specialities, Tory is famous for its
art and song, Clare Island for its dancing and music,
the Aran Islands as the last outpost of ancient Gaelic
culture, Cape Clear Island for its maritime history and
friendly people. While each is different from the
other, they are all proud to be islanders and show the
same independence and strength necessary to survive.
The reader may be excused if confused already by the
names of these various islands: Arranmore in Donegal is
different from the Galway Aran Islands, or the Isle of
Arran of Scotland, if it comes to that. There is an
Inisbofin off Donegal and another off Galway, and Clare
Island off Mayo should not be confused with Cape Clear
off the Cork coast which is also known as Clear Island!
The Gaelic versions of these names have their own
hidden meanings - Inisbofin means the "Island of the
Fair Cow"; Tory means "survival against persecution"
and is the basis for the entitlement of the Tory Party
in Britain; and in all the cases of Arann, these
reflect the kidney shape of those islands.
The recent state support which has ensured the survival
of these islands was too late coming for others such as
the Blasket Island off Kerry and for Inisbofin and Gola
off Donegal which have now become museum pieces to be
studied by folklorists and archaeologists. But in a
sense, it was the awareness of the loss of such
communities which led to the efforts to preserve the
remaining island communities which occurred at the
opportune time of progress in communication technology
and the backup of European Community support.
The islanders appreciate their favoured position and
are aware that it is now up to themselves to use the
support given to them to preserve and develop their
communities for themselves and for the nation as a
whole.
This article is
Copyright © 2009, Feargal Mac Amhlaoibh