Great Blasket Island Caretaker Role

Great Blasket Island are looking for the next duo to run the Great Blasket Island coffee shop and overnight accommodation in 2024!

Job Frequently Asked Questions

What does the role involve?

Your role is to manage the coffee shop and 4 holiday cottages on the Great Blasket Island. This involves meeting and greeting overnight guests, serving tea and coffee to day visitors and ensuring the day to day running are being met. We are looking for hardworking, responsible and trustworthy duo that have great people skills and initiative. Please be aware this is not a holiday job. The season can get VERY busy and you will be on your feet for most of the day. 

What are the day to day runnings?

A general day would be: Please note the Island can get VERY busy. This is an intense positions and caretakers must acknowldge that they are on an Island with very little resources.. 

-Ensuring coffee shop prepped and set up for opening and bathrooms are clean

-Guests check out @ 10 am. Once checked out you must proceed with full clean of the houses and get them ready for new arrivals. This should take approx. 3 hours.

-1 pm – coffee shop open, serving teas and coffee to day visitors throughout the day.

-Guests check in – this time varies depending on tides.

-Coffee shops closed approx 5 pm.

-Clean, stock and set up coffee shop ready for next day.

What are my living conditions like?

Staff will sleep above the coffee shop and share the main bedroom (hence why looking for a couple) and use the coffee shop kitchen and toilets as their own. There is a stove which can be lit in the evening, any laundry will be collected and washed on the mainland and food shops will be delivered daily. During the busier months – June, July and August – we get one or two voluntary helpers who will sleep in the second upstairs bedroom.

Do we need a visa?

Yes if you are a non EU citizen you will need a valid working visa. 

Are travel expenses covered?

No, the selected duo must cover all their travel expenses / accommodation expenses until they board the boat to the Island.

How long is the job for?

The role is from 1st April – 1st October (weather permitting). If the weather is settled the last week of March we will try get caretakers out a week before opening to settle in.

Do we get a day off?

Days off are determined by the weather. We could have a week of bad weather, therefore no sailings to the Island, or else 4 weeks of sunshine. This is where the role can be very intense. During the busier months of June, July and August we will get ‘helpexers’ in on a voluntary work basis in exchange for bed and board.

Are we paid a wage?

Yes you are paid a wage – to be discussed further upon application.

What is included?

All food and board is included in the position on top of your wage. Alcohol and toiletries are not included in daily shops.

You will sleep in a bedroom above the coffee shop and will use the coffee shop kitchen and bathrooms as your own (all located in the same building).

Are there any other jobs that we might have to do?

Our main priority are the guests and coffee shop. If there is a long period of bad weather / days off we encourage painting or any general DIY.

Do I have to speak/know English or Irish:

Fluent English speaking is required. If you have Irish that would be great, please specify in your application.

Apply here: https://www.greatblasketisland.net/job/