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This Could Be Your Dream Job: Thousands Apply to Be Caretakers on Remote Irish Island

This Could Be Your Dream Job: Thousands Apply to Be Caretakers on Remote Irish Island
Two people can apply to become caretakers in a remote Irish seaside town on Great Blasket Island, as jobs open up for second year running.

If you love the rugged wilderness and rustic living, this might be your dream job.

For the second year running, owners of a coffee shop and four rental cottages on Great Blasket Island are in search of an intrepid duo to take up concierge duty for the tourist season from April 1st through October 1st.

According to owners Billy O'Connor and his partner Alice Hayes, last year they received more than 40,000 applications for the sought-after gig, from as far away as Mexico, Finland, and Argentina.

Located just off the coast of Ireland's County Kerry, the isolated island is a hiker's paradise during the height of the summer, with hundreds of visitors daily.

Caretakers will be provided with accommodation, food, and glorious views of some of Mother Nature's most spectacular seaside scenery.

"It's absolutely fantastic that so many people want to come here," O'Connor told The Irish Examiner, "but many didn't realize what the living conditions are like."

Great Blasket Island – Facebook

He is referring to the fact that there's no electricity or hot running water on the Island. That means anyone who gets the job will need to go with the flow.

Since they'll be living in a main bedroom above the coffee shop, O'Connor and Hayes think a couple would be ideally suited for the situation. Chores basically entail running the coffee shop and maintaining the holiday cabins.

Since so much of the local tourist trade is weather-dependent—and it rains a lot in Ireland—there can also be long stretches of downtime. (The daily schedule is detailed on the website.) Additionally, when it get hectic in June and July, a volunteer or two will be hosted in a second bedroom upstairs.

To narrow the field of entries, this year they're asking that any would-be caretakers make sure they meet the criteria posted on the website prior to filling out the application. Applications will be accepted, here, until January 22.

While they concede that due to COVID-19 considerations, this year's caretakers will likely be Irish (as were the two previous couples), O'Connor and Hayes will consider all viable applications, with hopes of opening the opportunity to more candidates from abroad.

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