New manager for Blasket Centre

WEST Kerry man Lorcán Ó Cinnéide, who was instrumental in establishing Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhóir in Dún Chaoin over 30 years ago has now been appointed as the new manager of the centre.

On Monday the Office of Public Works, which has responsibility for both Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhóir and the Blasket island national park, announced the appointment of Lorcán, a TCD graduate who comes into the job with extensive management experience in the top ranks of both the public and private sectors.

Lorcán, from Baile an Mhúraigh, has been involved in Fondúireacht an Bhlascaoid since it was formed in 1986 with the aim of preserving and promoting the heritage of the Great Blasket. With considerable support from then Taoiseach Charlie Haughey, the Fondúireacht succeeded in getting a national park established on the Great Blasket and the development of Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhóir, which was no small achievement for an ad hoc group.

As manager of the Ionad, Lorcán will now be in a position to further the initial aims of the Fondúireacht in the conservation and preservation of the heritage of the Great Blasket which, he believes, should be celebrated as an extremely important part of the cultural history of West Kerry.

“Is céim spreagúil é an ceapachán seo maidir le forbairt Ionaid an Bhlascaoid agus forbairt na mBlascaodaí araon, óir tá spéis an phobail in oidhreacht shaibhir na mBlascaodaí ag méadú i gcónaí,” dúirt Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí Dé Luain.