Ionad an Bhlascaoid – The Blasket Centre

About the museum

The Blasket Centre stands in Dún Chaoin (Dunquin), the most westerly parish of the Dingle Peninsula, and is run by the Office of Public Works. It tells the story of the Blasket Islands and the small Irish-speaking community who lived there until the middle of the twentieth century. Life on the islands was hard, with fishing, farming and a constant struggle against the weather. Emigration and decline led to the final evacuation of the Great Blasket in 1953.

The islanders left a large cultural legacy. Several island authors described their community in books that are now valued as social records and as classics of Irish literature, and the centre explores this literature, along with the Irish language and culture of the Gaeltacht.

The building itself is a notable piece of modern architecture. The exhibitions were completely upgraded in 2022 with new interactive displays, and a fully accessible clifftop viewing platform offers views of the Blasket archipelago and the Atlantic coast. The centre is a Wild Atlantic Way Signature Discovery Point.

Highlights

• Interactive exhibitions on the Blasket Islanders, upgraded in 2022
• Writers’ room on the island literature
• Clifftop viewing platform with views of the Blasket archipelago
• Audio-visual presentation
• Café and bookshop

Permanent exhibition

• The Blasket Islands exhibition – Interactive exhibitions, renewed in 2022, on the life, language and literature of the Blasket Islanders until the evacuation of the Great Blasket in 1953.

Operated by

Office of Public Works (Heritage Ireland)

Admission & discounts

The site is part of the Heritage Ireland network run by the Office of Public Works.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The centre is listed as wheelchair accessible, and the clifftop viewing platform is fully accessible. Only assistance dogs are allowed. Toilets and baby-changing facilities are available.

Kids & families

• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

Children under 12 enter free, and a family ticket is available. The exhibitions are interactive and baby-changing facilities are provided.

Getting there & parking

The centre is at the tip of the Dingle Peninsula, 16 km from Dingle on the R559.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

Café and bookshop on site; Wi-Fi is listed among the facilities. The centre is also listed as a wedding venue.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

Listed as a wedding venue.

Plan your visit