In the late 1960s all of the island's families left to live on the mainland. This was due largely to the closure of the school in 1967 Fishing and farming at subsistence level had sustained them for centuries but could not compete with the attractions of mainland living or the better opportunities it now afforded. Many of the islanders now living on the mainland preserve a strong sense of their island identity and culture. They are renowned for their skills as mariners and fishermen and as singers and story-tellers. People have begun returning to the island. A number of houses have been restored by former residents and their families. This, helped by the spunch of a regular ferry service, the Seod Gbabbla, is bringing life back to Gabhla. There is newfound interest in the ecology of the island, its scenery and the possibility of living close to nature.
