What happens if we book / pay and the trip is cancelled due to unsuitable weather and / or sea conditions?

We refund the payment back to source on a “no quibbles” basis.

Alternatively we will give you a day when conditions are more suitable, if you wish. On the booking form we ask you to give us your email address and contact mobile number (including your international dialling code) so that we can contact you by email or text / sms in the event of any change of schedule. If we think that there is the possibility of cancellation we normally send an email or text / sms a day or two before to let you know of possible change of schedule.

Do you have a toilet on board?

Yes.

Where can we park?

There is some limited parking on Ventry Pier. Also there is some parking in small car park above shop / P.O. and around the village. There is a large car park at Ventry beach which is approx. 200 meters from the pier- you can walk along the beach over to the pier.

There is a car park opposite Quinn’s pub – The Ventry Inn – but normally reserved for patrons. If you park here please consider visiting The Ventry Inn for a drink or a meal after your trip

How long before departure time do we need to arrive?

Please arrive on pier approx. 15 / 20 minutes before departure time. Allow for some delay along the way either due to road works, slow traffic on the road or traffic congestion in Dingle town.

Are there any facilities or places to eat in Ventry village?

Yes. You can get drinks, tea / coffee and soup in Quinn’s pub and they also have an excellent selection of food at the Ventry Inn. Penny’s Pottery Café is a lovely place to stop for coffee, delicious snacks and cakes. There is also an excellent shop /P.O. in the village where you can get takeaway tea / coffee and freshly made sandwiches / rolls and delicious freshly made salads.

Where can we stay locally?

There are many local B. and B. in Ventry village also know officially in Gaelic as Ceann Trá. Please email us if you require more info or google Ventry or Ceann Trá on line.

Dingle town also has a wide selection of hotels, restaurants and accommodation.

Will we get seasick on the trip?

Hopefully you will not get seasick on this short 1 hr. trip to the island. We only travel when conditions are good to reasonable but please be aware that this is the Atlantic Ocean and the trip can be subject to some sea swell. We sail through Dingle Bay and the Blasket Sound which can get choppy especially in wind against tide conditions.

If you are anxious about getting sea sick you can take some medication beforehand which you can get at chemist and if you feel a bit queasy when you get to the island a nice cup of tea at the island tearooms will settle you in no time at all!

Will we see any wildlife on the way?

Yes hopefully we will, but no guarantees. Please note this is Eco Ferry service rather than an Eco Tour and the main priority is to get to the island within approximately one hour and watch out for marine wildlife along the way, in particular common dolphins, Minke whales, basking shark which we often see earlier in the season and we will also view seals on the island beach – The White Strand – or at Carraig Fhada rocks, north of the Trá Bán.

But if your priority is to view marine wildlife as well as visit the Great Blasket Island please visit our sister site www.marinetours.ie and you can book a marine tour online there.

Is there anybody living on the Great Blasket Island?

The island was officially evacuated in 1953 and has only sporadically being occupied ever since mainly in the summer months from April to the end of September. There are the remnants of a very atmospheric village on the island and a magical atmosphere of times past. Some of the houses are occupied during the summer by shepherds from the mainland tending to the six hundred plus flock of island sheep and there is a small tearooms and hostel at the top of the village.

What is there to do on the island?

You can get a guided tour of the old deserted village by the OPW guides which run twice a day at 12 and 2 o’clock or walk on the Trá Bán – The White Strand – and watch the grey seals which are often hauled out on the beach or take a loop walk around the island which takes about 1 ½ hrs. Please note if you wish to walk to the end of the island and back you would need approx. 4 hrs. and would need to take our All Day Ferry departing at 10 am and returning for 17:30 pm.

What happens if we miss the return ferry from the island?

We will pick you up next day ……… if we are running.

Are there any special clothes or equipment that we need to wear / bring?

Please wear warm clothes, a windproof jacket and good walking shoes or boots for the rough terrain on the island.

Are there any dangers on the island?

Yes, there are steep unguarded cliffs if you wander off the track and uneven ground underfoot so you need to be careful that you do not step into any gulleys or rabbit holes. There can be midges on the island, especially in moist damp conditions and some ticks in the longer grass which you should try and avoid.

Is the trip suitable for elderly people or people with special needs?

The embarkation and disembarkation points both on the mainland and at Great Blasket island are subject to tidal conditions and the mainland embarkation point may necessitate the use of a tender around low water and the use of a tender is always required at the Great Blasket island slipway as the “harbour” is too restricted for the main vessel to enter.

The tender consists of a licenced dinghy for 8 passengers plus one crew and is operated professionally subject to Tendering Safety Plan and by experienced crew. We always give every assistance possible to our customers but people must make up their own minds about the suitability of the trip taking into account that there are only green (grass) roads on the island and the rest is a wilderness area.

Can I stay overnight on the island and get picked up next day?

Yes you can if you book the All Day Ferry but only if we expect conditions will be suitable to run the following day. Please email us for details – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Is there a group or family rate?

We only charge half price for children under 12 yrs. Our Eco Ferry has a relatively small capacity and we keep numbers below our maximum permitted capacity for passenger comfort. We have access to a second larger vessel so if you have a group over 12 persons please email us with your details and requirements This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Is this the only ferry to the Blaskets?

No there are also services from Dingle and Dún Chaoin but all have their own schedule, prices and different booking systems. We can only answer enquiries about our own services whether Blasket Islands Eco ferry or Blasket Islands Eco Marine Tours.

Do we have to book online? Can we not pay cash on the day?

We only have an internet booking system. This system also helps us to keep track of our passenger numbers so that we do not over book etc. You can pay cash on the day, but only if there is space, and obviously preference is always given to customers who have booked and prepaid online. Please note that telephone bookings can only be taken on this basis.

Do we have to print out our Booking Confirmation?

No, you do not have to print out your Booking Confirmation as long as you can show us the booking on your smartphone or other device.

I have a query that is not included in the above. Where can I ask?

Please use the form on the “Contact Us” page for your enquiry or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.