Latest news with #AranIslands
Times
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Four Letters of Love review — Pierce Brosnan can't save this Irish cliché
As a rule, novelists don't make great screenwriters. They're too in love with prose and too beguiled by the musicality of language to submit to the ruthless demands of visual storytelling. Cormac McCarthy's only original screenplay, The Counselor, is a case in point, as is F Scott Fitzgerald's Three Comrades and anything, including Sleepwalkers, that Stephen King has written directly for the screen. Step forward Niall Williams, the award-winning Irish novelist. He has delivered a screenplay adapted from his own debut novel that is splattered with wearisome wall-to-wall voiceover and punctuated by the kind of melodramatic contrivances that can be hidden inside poetical pages but on the screen provoke only eye rolls, yawns and a couple of dry retches. Not even the strong cast, which includes Pierce Brosnan, Gabriel Byrne and Helena Bonham Carter, can save it. The setting is 1970s Oireland, a mythical place where the men are all self-tortured poets, artists and musicians, and the women are ginger and vivacious and good at Irish dancing, like Jean Butler from Riverdance. In the opening scene we learn that the mopey Dublin writer Nicholas (Fionn O'Shea, recycling his Beckett turn from Dance First) is destined for a life of romantic bliss with the Aran Islands-based wild child Isobel (Ann Skelly). And so for the next nearly two hours we watch and wait, Sleepless in Seattle-style, for our two lovers to meet while the film aimlessly spins its narrative wheels. Cue mildly distracting yet dramatically pointless episodes showcasing Nicholas looking forlorn, Isobel marrying the wrong guy, someone having a stroke, several people talking out loud to God (typical Catholics!), and Brosnan, Byrne and Bonham Carter given little to do as parents in distress. It doesn't help that the director, Polly Steele (The Mountain Within Me), has seemingly chosen to fill the narrative longueurs with endless drone shots of the Irish countryside. Pretty, yes. But they can only offer so much damage limitation.★★☆☆☆12A, 110minIn cinemas from Jul 18 • Read more film reviews, guides about what to watch and interviews Times+ members can enjoy two-for-one cinema tickets at Everyman each Wednesday. Visit to find out more. Which films have you enjoyed at the cinema recently? Let us know in the comments and follow @timesculture to read the latest reviews
The Independent
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Want to get paid £70,000 to move to a remote island? Here's how - but there's a catch
Ever dreamed of living on a remote island? Well, you could get paid £70,000 (€84,000) to do it. The Irish government is paying individuals to refurbish a property on one of the country's remote offshore islands. Part of the 'Our Living Islands' policy the initiative aims to boost the population of remote communities off the West Coast of Ireland. Anyone can apply and you do not need to be an Irish citizen to benefit. Properties up for grabs are located on islands such as Aran Islands, Clare Island, Dursey, Inishturk, Inishbofin and Bere, all boasting rugged coastlines, breathtaking views and individual charm. In total there are 23 inhabited offshore islands that qualify for the scheme. As of 2016, these islands had a combined population of just 2,734. But there's a catch, the properties up for grabs on these islands are derelict or vacant and will need major renovations. The 10-year national policy, which launched in 2023, aims to improve infrastructure and housing. Several Italian towns also make use of a similar scheme that sees vacant properties sold for €1. It's resulted in headlines about crumbling villas and fixer-upper failures since it started in 2017. Croatia and France have also launched schemes to help renovate derelict remote homes, but with the caveat that you will need to make it your home. In Japan, some countryside homes are sold for ¥1 or even for free in auction in hopes of boosting dwindling populations. However, applicants in Ireland can receive as much as €84,000 to refurbish the derelict properties into a residential home. But the grant is not for holidays homes and short-term rentals. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant to refurbish vacant properties starts at €50,000 and an extra €20,000 is on offer to refurbish derelict properties. On the qualifying islands, the scheme can offer people €60,000 for the refurbishment of a vacant property, or up to €84,000 where the property is also derelict. However, to benefit from the scheme there is some criteria to meet. The island property needs to be vacant or derelict and built before 2007. It also needs to have been unoccupied for at least two years. The grant money can be used to do up the property and live in it or rent it out, but this must be done for a minimum of 10 years from the date of payment of the grant to avoid paying the grant back. If someone decides to sell the property in the first five years of receiving the grant they will need to reimburse the local authority. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage said as of the end of March this year, a total of 35 island applications under the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant have been received by relevant local authorities, with 22 approved.
The Sun
10-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
You could live on a tiny remote island off the UK coast and get paid a staggering £70K a YEAR… but it's not all easy
A SCHEME could see you live on a tiny remote island off the UK coast and get paid a whopping £70K a year - but it's not all that easy. The initiative falls under the "Our Living Islands" policy, designed to attract more residents and breathe new life into remote communities. 8 8 8 The Irish government is offering individuals up to £70,000 to purchase a home on one of the country's remote islands. Around 23 inhabited offshore islands are eligible for the scheme. As of 2016, the combined population of these remote isles was just 2,734. The Aran Islands are the most famous ones in the scheme and feature three picturesque rocky isles, Inishmaan, Inisheer and Inishmore. However, the most remote island is Tory (Toraigh), which had a population of just 141 people as of 2023. Each isle has its own unique landscapes and features that shape its character and the lives of those who live there. The scheme is open to everyone, even if you're not an Irish citizen — but there's a catch. The £70,000 grant provided by the government is intended to renovate vacant or derelict homes on the island. They are not paying people to move there directly. The scheme aims to improve infrastructure in the area, which in turn will help create more sustainable communities. The beautiful home on Irish market for €750k with incredible island views Successful applicants must use the money solely for restoring properties, as it is not a lump sum that can be used for general living expenses. Renovating properties can be expensive, and once complete, the scheme does not permit the home to be used as a holiday let or short-term rental. Despite not needing to be an Irish citizen, applicants must meet certain criteria to qualify. To receive the grant, applicants must either own or be in the process of buying a property that meets the age and vacancy requirements. Those looking to move to one of these remote islands can only choose a vacant or derelict property built before 2007 that has been unoccupied for a minimum period. Applicants must also plan to live there permanently or rent the property out for at least 10 years to avoid having to repay large portions of the grant. If someone sells the property, stops using it as their main home, or it's no longer rented out, they may have to repay all or part of the grant to the local authority. In the first five years, homeowners must repay the full grant. Between five and ten years, they must repay 75 per cent of the grant. After ten years, homeowners can keep the property without repaying any of the grant. 8 8 8 8 8
Irish Times
10-07-2025
- Irish Times
Airport security ‘left my Aran Islands and west coast images damaged', says US photographer
A photographer visiting Ireland to take pictures of the Aran Islands and western seaboard says specialist camera film he was using for the project was damaged because Dublin Airport security staff did not know what it was. Seattle-based Remy Robin, who works on commercial and portraiture commissions, photographed a number of islanders while on a trip originally planned for a personal project that involved taking pictures of landscapes. He uses a rare, specialised 'four by five' camera, a wooden box-type piece of equipment that resembles old-style large cameras. It uses film in the form of large individual negatives, which he says he buys online because some of it is no longer being manufactured. Some of the types of film produce striking, stylised colour images with, for instance, green vegetation appearing as red. READ MORE Mr Robin told The Irish Times he has travelled through international airports regularly without significant difficulty as he has press credentials, documentation from photography equipment maker Kodak and a lightproof bag that allow security staff to inspect the film without exposing it to light. At Dublin Airport last month, however, he said security staff insisted on opening sealed boxes and attempting to look at the undeveloped film. He said he was told passing the film through the security machines would not damage it, but when he argued this was not true and sought to take with the issue up with a manager, two staff became angry and proceeded to take the film away to inspect it. He said he did not see the inspection, but some of the seals were broken when the film was returned to him and some of the images subsequently showed evidence of having been exposed to light. Photographer Remy Robin: 'They took my film away and disappeared into another room for a few minutes' 'I've probably been through about four international airports in the last few months without anything even remotely similar to this,' Mr Robin said. 'As I always do, I arrived a few hours early, approached the security staff and requested a hand check for my film as it cannot be X-rayed. 'Of course, telling airport security, 'I have something that can't be X-rayed and I have a box that you can't look inside' makes some people nervous, but it does say Kodak and a lot of them are factory sealed. 'People usually just do the hand check and pass me through in a few minutes. 'But this guy, I don't know, he was playing tough guy or something. And he told me, he'd never heard of Kodak before, he'd never heard of film, the weirdest things to say. 'They got visibly angry with me when I suggested that I talk to a manager and they took my film away and disappeared into another room for a few minutes. 'Upon returning, I could see that they had undone the tape on my boxes and probably looked inside. I can't say for sure what they did, but I did witness them tearing out the tape and trying to look inside the boxes, which, of course, you know, if you have a roll of film and you pull out the negatives, it's all gone.' He said the investment in the trip – taking into account the time, travel costs and the investment in the rare film he uses – was probably about $15,000 to $20,000 (€12,800 to €17,000) and he feared it all would be wasted. Most of the photographs he took are useable, though, but some have been tainted by the film's exposure to light at the airport, leaving visible damage. He puts the financial cost at about $2,000. Shot of Dingle Peninsula, Co Kerry, showing some of the damage allegedly caused to the film at Dublin Airport. Photograph: Remy Robin 'Specifically, most of my colour negatives and slide film now have a thin veil or haze over the entire image, a subtle fogging,' Mr Robin said. 'None of the film was fatally damaged, I can still salvage many of the image, but the flaws reduce the archival quality of the originals and limit the extent to which they can be printed large or sold at fine art quality without retouching.' He said he complained to Dublin Airport operator DAA about the incident and was recently told an investigation was under way. A DAA spokesperson said: 'We are aware of the complaint and the team is currently carrying out an investigation into it. It would be inappropriate to comment further while that investigation is ongoing.'
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
How to move to a remote island and get paid up to £70,000 for it - but would YOU make one these properties your new home?
The Irish government is offering to pay individuals €84,000 (£70,000) to purchase a property in one of the country's remote offshore islands. This initiative, part of the 'Our Living Islands' policy, aims to boost the population and revitalise remote communities off the West Coast of Ireland. In total there are 23 inhabited offshore islands that qualify for the scheme. As of 2016, these islands had a combined population of just 2,734. One of the most famous islands included in the scheme is the Aran Islands, consisting of three picturesque rocky isles, Inishmaan, Inisheer and Inishmore, where parts of The Banshees of Inisherin were filmed. However, there are plenty of other obscure gems in need of more residents, such as Clare Island, Dursey, Inishturk, Inishbofin, Bere and, the most remote of them all, Tory (Toraigh) - which boasts a population of just 141 people as of 2023. Each island possesses unique characteristics and landscapes, contributing to its individual charm. From dramatic cliffs and ancient ruins, to stretches of lush green fields and dry stone walls, to pristine beaches and rugged coastline, these stunning surroundings offer prospective residents a breathtaking change from the hustle and bustle of urban life. Anyone can apply, even if they're not an Irish citizen. However, there are some important things to note. The Irish government is offering grants of up to £70,000 to renovate vacant or derelict properties on the islands, not directly paying people to move there. Though the 'Our Living Islands' scheme is aimed at encouraging population growth, it also sets out to improve housing and infrastructure, which in turn creates sustainable communities. Renovating older properties can be costly, and the grant money is not provided as a lump sum for general living expenses, but rather specifically for renovating and refurbishing existing properties. Successful applicants could receive as much as €84,000 (£69,650) to transform a property into a residential home. Short-term rentals or holiday homes are not eligible for the grant. While the standard Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant offers up to €50,000, or up to €70,000 in the case of homes deemed to be derelict, the government is offering more to those prepared to refurbish properties on the qualifying islands. This means that those willing to brave a refurb job on one of the islands can secure up to €60,000 for the refurbishment of a vacant property, or up to €84,000 where the property is also derelict. You don't need to be an Irish citizen to apply, but there are additional catches that come with the grant. Applicants need to meet specific criteria, including owning or being in the process of buying the property, and the property must meet the age and vacancy requirement. The property must be vacant or derelict, built before a certain date (2007) and unoccupied for a minimum period. Each property must also be situated on islands not connected to the mainland by a bridge or causeway, and are often cut off daily by the tide. Anyone can apply for the grant, as long as they plan to buy a property to do up and either live there permanently, or rent it out. For those planning to do up a property to let it out, that is also possible, as long as they are not doing so as a registered company or developer. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is handled by local authorities on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Each local authority therefore decides on applications for the grant. Path along the coast of the Irish island of Inishbofin in summer A person also needs to live in or rent the qualifying property for at least 10 years from the date of payment of the grant to avoid having to pay large sums back. If someone decides to sell the property, or it ceases to be their main home, or the property is no longer being rented they may need to reimburse the local authority all or part of the grant. In the first five years this amounts to repaying everything back. Between five and 10 years this equates to repaying 75 per cent of the grant back. After 10 years, home-owners can do as they wish without having to repay the grant.
