Next Parish America: The Blasket Islands in Literature and Lore

The once Irish-speaking Blasket Islands, off the coast of Co. Kerry, are known worldwide as a place where Irish language and culture were nurtured up until their inhabitants left to live on the mainland in 1953/54. The people who lived there and their stories have not been forgotten and are remembered in the rich literature which emerged from the islands, particularly the books Twenty Years A-Growing by Muiris Ó Súilleabháin (Maurice O' Sullivan in English) and Peig (pronounced Peg) by Peig Sayers. 

This course will explore the lives of the Blasket Islanders through excerpts from both books, in both Irish and English, as well as the distinct culture and landscape of the community. For the people of the Blaskets, the next parish beyond them was America and they lived both at the edge and center of Irish culture. Note: Both books, Twenty Years A-Growing and Peig, can be found in English translation on Amazon and it would be helpful to have read them before the class.

Sean O’Callaghan, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the department of religious and theological studies at Salve Regina. He grew up in Ireland and has a Ph.D. in systematic theology from the University of Liverpool. Sean’s main area of expertise is in the field of world religions, including their evolution into new forms. He is also interested in transhumanism and new technologies emerging from that field along with the ethical questions raised.