Last surviving Blasket Islander to emigrate to Springfield, Massachusetts has died

The last surviving Blasket Islander to emigrate to the United States in the last century has died.

Máiréad Kearney Shea – known as Máiréad Pheats Tom – died this week in Springfield, Massachusetts.

She was 102 years old.

She emigrated to the US in 1949, four years before the island’s inhabitants were evacuated.

Last year, the mayor of Springfield designated a day in her honour.

Lorcán Ó Cinnéide is bainisteoir of Ionad an Bhlascaoid and a friend.

He says Máiréad had an amazing zest for life.