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Fancy an escape? A remote Irish island is hiring caretakers

The mostly uninhabited and very, very picturesque Great Blasket island is looking for two custodians

Huw Oliver
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Huw Oliver
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Fancy a fresh start in 2021? Perhaps a new job or a new home? Well, why not both? The remote Irish island of Great Blasket is looking for two people to be caretakers through this spring and summer – and applications are now open.

Just off the rocky coast of County Kerry, the small island is the largest in a group of six along the famous Wild Atlantic Way. The owners of three self-catering cottages and a coffee shop on the island are currently on the hunt for a couple or a pair of friends to become caretakers. The successful applicants’ duties would include helping out with the shop and cleaning the cottages between stays.

Great Blasket in IrelandPhotograph: Courtesy of Tourism Ireland

Though no one has lived permanently on Great Blasket since the 1950s, many visitors still come on boat trips to take in the scenery and explore its ruined cottages. The island sprawls out over 1,100 acres of largely mountainous terrain, and has no hot running water or electricity. It is well known in Ireland as the former home of author Peig Sayers, and as the subject of several important linguistic studies focusing on the relatively unchanged form of Irish that was once spoken here.

The caretakers will be paid a wage and provided with all food and accommodation (a room above the coffee shop). The job will cover the period from April 1 to October 1.

Fancy a new life? Last year, more than 40,000 people applied – so your chances are pretty slim. But amid the hellscape of 2021, the prospect of such a dreamy escape surely makes it worth a try. You can apply here.

Want a more permanent change? This town in Sicily is selling €1 houses – and it’ll pay you to fix one up.

And these are officially the best cities to start a new life in 2021.

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