大象传媒

**** This programme was suggested by Paul Buttle as part of 大象传媒 Radio 4 Extra鈥檚 All Request Weekend ****

The outbreak of war brings prosperity and change for the islanders with shipwrecks, foreign sailors and the threat of conscription.

Memoirs and reminiscences of life growing up on The Blasket Islands off Ireland's Dingle Peninsula. The Islands were evacuated after World War II, but prior to that 150 inhabitants lived a traditional, rural life.

Maurice O'Sullivan was born on the Islands in 1904, before being fostered in Dingle and then returning to his family home on the Irish speaking Island.

It captures a young boy's growth to early manhood on the great Blasket, "a truly Gaelic island which lies north-west off the coast of Kerry". With stories of his friends, family, father and grandfather.

'Did you never hear how the life of man is divided?' says Maurice's grandfather, 'twenty years a-growing, twenty years in blossom, twenty years a-stooping, and twenty years declining."

Written by Maurice O'Sullivan and abridged by Ann Rees-Jones

The story continues from the first Omnibus episode featured in 4 Extra's ALL REQUEST WEEKEND.

Read by PG Stephens

Producer: Maurice Leitch

First broadcast on 大象传媒 Radio 4 in August 1977.

**** To nominate a programme from the archive that you would like to hear again, please email radio4extra@bbc.co.uk ****

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