It's strange to write this from my house back in England, but this is the first occasion I have had to update the blog since my time on Inishlacken.
Arrived on the island after a calm crossing to the island on Big Pat’s curragh. Three of us made up the advance guard and we set-to, lighting fires in the two buildings we had use of – the schoolhouse and Finklater’s cottage. My first impression of the island was a silver sanded beach with rocky outcrops on either side. The land rises up to the water tower on the horizon and dotted to the south and north are ruins of stone cottages, last inhabited over 45 years ago.
After unloading the boat, the equipment and supplies need to be transported to the cottage where food will be prepared. This necessitates a walk of approx half a mile, not easy with suitcases, 5 litre water carriers and heavy blocks of Irish peat for the fires. We make several journeys and finally, when all is completed, I seek out my accommodation – known as The Shed.
I am sharing with Kate, a composer of Australian nationality but currently living in Holland. The Shed is a bit damp and smells strongly of sheep dung. I put my sleeping bag out and try to make it seem like home.
After four hours or so, the rest of the artists arrive, this time in a larger trawler that anchors in deeper water off the harbour wall. The curragh is used as a floating taxi to bring people to the beach where they wade onto the shore. More provisions (including copious amounts of wine and beer) are carried across boggy soil, rocks, over and around rock pools and sand. Finally we are settled in and have some time to make a first exploration of the island.
