Of his time on the Island Gerard says “I arrived on the Great Blasket Island and began to climb the hill carrying my easel and canvasses. I took in the beauty of the place and wondered where to start, then I viewed the Tra Ban through the ruins. It seemed almost sacred. One could imagine days gone by when the community gathered here and men played hurling on the beach., I was filled with a sense of loss. This was dispelled by children playing outside their family house and inspired me to paint the scene to the celebrate the continuity of life. Later walking to the back of the Island, I was struck by the immensity of the cliffs and the Ocean and felt compelled to capture the scene. I departed with a longing to return. “