The musician who is refusing to let a landmark derelict building ‘die’ on Inis Meáin

Óstan Inis Meáin, a former hotel on the middle island of the three Aran Islands, has a ghostly character when visited today.

Dust-covered bar stools, an abandoned tambourine and a visitors’ book – with the signatures of tourists from across the globe – are among the items left behind: evidence of a once vibrant hub of hospitality, ceol agus caint .

Now the derelict building is getting a new lease of life thanks to musician Úna Ní Fhlannagáin, who became the unlikely owner of the property after a public auction late last year.

The award-winning harper, composer and singer was invited to visit the island in 2020 to work on a series of videos exploring the history of the Irish harp. She was only meant to stay for a week, but she is still living on Inis Meáin five years later.