A DECISION by Kerry County Council to grant planning permission for a cafe on the Great Blasket opens the way for the state’s purchase of the island.

OWNERS of the historic Great Blasket island in Kerry are understood to be on the brink of a purchase agreement with the Government, though the granting of planning permission for development on the island is still a key issue.

THE principle landowner on the Great Blasket Island says he will not accept today’s deadline for agreement on the sale of the island to the Office of Public Works.

THE long-awaited purchase by the State of Great Blasket Island is to go ahead this year, the Government announced yesterday.

COLD water is continuing to be poured over an €8.5m development plan for the Great Blasket island.

AN €8.5 million plan to make the Great Blasket island a national historic park is in “grave jeopardy” following the refusal of An Bord Pleanála to give planning permission for a café, the biggest landowner on the island warned yesterday.