Calling all introverts, married couples, and BFFs! If you’ve ever thought of packing it all in and moving to some faraway island where everyone will just leave you alone forever, there’s hope for you off the coast of Ireland.
The job vacancy advertisement posted to Twitter was simple and to the point: “A unique position required — looking for long term management of Island Accommodation and Coffee Shop. Couple or two friends.” (1)
As you might expect it went viral, like real fast.
Roughing It
This role, tempting though it may be, is not for the faint of heart. The Great Blasket Island is a remote island located off the coast of Ireland, and when you’re here, you’re definitely “roughing it” as they say. The three available cottage rentals are appointed with only the bare necessities, and electricity and hot showers are not among them. But for the right kind of traveler, this could be an ideal situation. These “bare necessities” might even enhance the experience for some.
If this is sounding like something you could get into, Alice and Billy will be your new coworkers. They are looking for a “fit, hardworking and enthusiastic duo,” to serve breakfast, handle turnover of the cottages for new guests, run the coffee shop, clean the chicken coop, water the plants and light the fireplaces for guests. (1)
Since you’ll be running the coffee shop, that’s the place you’ll hang your hat too. The apartment above the coffee shop is cozy, equipped with more of those “bare necessities”, and ready for you to take over. Though your life is about to be simplified (understatement of the year), on the plus side you won’t be doing any laundry during your time here. There’s not a washing machine to be found on the whole island, actually. That’s right, all your unmentionables will be someone else’s problem. Someone far, far away from you.
Celebrate Mother Nature
The simple life is definitely found here on Great Blasket Island. Some might say too simple. But as you start to learn a little more about it, and see some of the photos on the website, it begins to grow on you. (2) The wide-open spaces, rolling green hills, and big blue sky have a way of drawing you in. Almost like an invitation made by Mother Nature herself: “Come join me.”
The gig runs from April 1, 2020, through October 2020; but, unfortunately, it looks like the post has been filled. Too bad too – with the coronavirus pandemic likely to affect your plans throughout the entirety of 2020, you might as well have gone to join Alice and Billy on the island. It could have been an experience you wouldn’t soon forget, and when people ask you how you passed the time during quarantine, you would have had some great stories to share. Did you know Great Basket Island has its very own resident dolphin named Fungie? (2) Maybe you can cash in on this once in a lifetime coffee shop role next year so you can write a book!
