111/365 - Lesley Bond, Monastervin, Co. Kildare.

Kildare

19 Apr

I am absolutely fascinated by Lesley Bond’s story. We met in Woodstack Café, which is nestled away in the woods in Kildare and feels like you’ve been transported back in time, and after hearing Lesley’s story it makes total sense.

Lesley once held one of the most coveted (and viral) jobs in Ireland. We’re all seen it, we’ve all dreamed of it. Herself and her (now) husband, got hired as the caretakers of the Great Blasket island in 2019.

They lived for six months, without electricity, wifi, or even a fridge. They spent their evenings in the tiny cottage, reading books by candlelight. In the daytime they’d welcome visitors to the island, serving them cups of tea (heated by their wee gas stoves), having the chats and providing some rudimentary accommodation as well.

Lesley’s new book explains it all (and is so beautifully written too).