Blaskets to Springfield—Part 3

Máiréad Ní Chearnaigh

Transcription of interview by Caitlin Foley:

I was born in the Blasket Island and brought up there 'til I was sixteen and then I left. I went to Dunquin to work.

I went to Dingle, mostly and that's it -- that's how far I ever went. No, I never went any place but to Dingle. There's others that went down to England. The minute they get out of school they head out for England and they won't stay. I was even going to England. When there was a guy that came in to the island and they made some tea for him and whatever he wanted.

And he said, "What are you doing for winter,” and I said, "Nothing."

Well, he said, I have a big factory in England, and when I go back I'll write to you and I'll get an apartment for you, and they'll give you a good job and good money and you'll be all set.

I said, "That sounds good."

The money was there and I'll leave the island and the other thing.

So when he went, he wrote to me and got the place and everything. But you have to go through Dingle to go to England to get you a job. You can't leave Ireland and go to England and get your job. And when I went to Ireland, all the papers was thrown away. They won't leave us go. I was bringing my cousin with me but I won't go alone.

And everybody was saying, "Ah you're so lucky, he'll give you money alright." I wonder what kind of money he was going to give you! He was a really nice man.

No, they won't leave us leave from Ireland. The office there, you had to go through them. And they're the ones that will give you a place and get you a job. So that was the end of that. So then we turned back and then I came here (Hungry Hill, Springfield, MA).

And I love it here.

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I have two brothers and five sisters. Oh, I was there when they left. It was a big thing when they decide to go. I was going to come out here (Springfield) but I said, "No. I can't leave and leave them (the parents) in the island without nobody taking care of them." So I figured I'd stay and my brother came out and Eilín. Tom and Eilín left and they came out here. And then I stayed there and then my other brother came and helped me. He was on the mainland too, he was married. And he helped me... with the chickens -- there wasn't that much to be moved really, but the chickens and the dogs.

Then my mother and father were on the island and they wanted to come out here till I'll move them first. I didn't want to leave them in there because there'd be nobody with them. So I moved them to the mainland and then I came out. And I love it here! And I'll never go back. Pat won't go back either, my buddy over there.

(So you left the island before the evacuation?) Yes. Yes. Everybody left then... everybody was gone there. Nobody was there then but the rabbits.