I have always been a fan of Matt Murphy's Marine Station on Sherkin Island off the Baltimore coast in south west Cork. Matt did it the hard way. He moved with his wife, Eileen, and five children to the island in 1971, leaving behind a life in industry in Cork.
In January 1979, Eileen died. By then, two more Murphys had been added to the clan - Peter and Audrey. Raising a family on his own in an island atmosphere was not the easiest task but Matt did it.
Matty (35) and Michael (34) are the eldest sons. Susan (32), now married on the island, helps to produce a newsletter - Sherkin Comment - while Mark is now 30 years of age. The fourth Murphy son, Robbie, is 25 and his sister Audrey is 24. The question was how they all could find a decent living and remain on the island.
The Sherkin Island Marine Station has attracted researchers from all over the world since it was founded in 1975. It has organised important seminars on environmental issues and has played a significant role in educational programmes in the region. In 1992, the station produced the excellent Ireland's Marine Life - a World of Beauty. The photographer Paul Kay opened our eyes to the astonishing species existing under our waters.
It was followed in May 1994 by the equally impressive Ireland's Bird Life - a World of Beauty. Richard Mills is one of the most renowned nature photographers in this part of the world. As with the earlier publication, this one gave the Latin, English and Irish names of the birds so beautifully captured by Mills.
And if you look up the de Bhaldraithe Irish dictionary, you will find that the word pocaire refers to a romper or a frolicker. When you join pocaire to gaoithe, you are talking about Falco tinnunculus - the kestrel. Anyone who has seen its frolicking in the air will know why the Irish name is so evocative.
The third volume in the Sherkin Island series was Wild Plants of Sherkin and Cape Clear Islands. The fourth volume is a pocket-sized production aimed at younger people - Ireland's Seashore. The guide is colour-coded from seaweeds to star fish and sea urchins.
As for the Murphy family and how they fared - Matty and Peter are involved in construction in America; Susan is now a mother and remains on Sherkin; Mark owns and runs Murphy's Bar and Restaurant there; Michael and Robbie still live there too and run an oyster farming business.
Audrey took a degree in zoology at Aberystwyth in Wales and spends her time nowadays talking to schoolchildren in Ireland. In the past two years, she has addressed more than 70,000 pupils on environmental matters.
The Murphy family beat the odds.