The Aran Islands

Famous poet and novelist John M. Synge recounts his travels to the Aran Islands in 1906 - a group of small yet culturally significant isles off the west coast of Ireland.

Notable for their history, which stretches back thousands of years, it was with this in mind that Synge conducted his travels of the islands. He attempts to catalog the unique culture of the isolated islands, noting how the peoples adapted to the rugged and adverse climate. Although Synge - a cultured, literate Irishman - thought the people simple, he had the greatest respect for their adept use of boats.

Already the winds of change beckon the younger members of the Aran community; Michael, realizing that there is no future on the bleak and grey isles, departs to seek his fortune elsewhere. Synge couples these accounts with observations of the primitive culture; there were no wheeled vehicles on the Aran Isles at the time, and many of the residents only spoke traditional Irish, rather than the dominant English.

John Synge wrote this account in journal form, noting down the places he saw, people he spoke to, and information he gained during his time in the Aran Islands. Although his plodding style in this chronicle is markedly different from the lively tone of his poems and prose efforts, Synge managed to produce a valuable document of a fading culture. Owing to technological and social developments - the old life of the Aran Islands would be consigned to history by the end of the 20th century.

Today - as one may observe from this book's cover photograph - the Aran Islands are very much modernized. All have electricity, a network of roads, cars, and the once primitive cottages have either been renovated or replaced by modern residences. Tourism is a major industry, as visitors from all around the world seek a fleeting glimpse at the ancient cultures of old Ireland.