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Skellig Michael is a remote island off the coast of Ireland, known for its well-preserved Christian monastery dating back to the late 6th century. It was abandoned by monks in the 12th century and later became home to lighthouse workers. Since the 1960s, it has been managed by a tourist board and is accessible to visitors, but authorities are limiting the number of tourists to prevent damage to the site. The boat trip takes about an hour and a half and offers remarkable views of Little Skellig’s bird colonies. Skellig Michael is a must-see site for visitors to County Kerry.
Skellig Michael is an island off the coast of Ireland. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has been since 1996. It’s quite remote, and as such is a remarkably well-preserved set of ruins.
Skellig Michael, which is a transliteration of the Irish name, Sceilig Mhicil, simply means Michael’s Rock. It is located approximately nine miles (15km) off the west coast of Ireland. It is located near Little Skellig, the smallest of the islands, best known for its colonies of gannets and puffins.
Skellig Michael is known for the beautiful Christian monastery that was built on the island. It is one of the oldest monasteries in Ireland, dating back to the late 6th century, and is built at the top of the island almost 6 meters above the sea.
Skellig Michael Monastery is quite remote and very ascetic. The population of the monastery probably never exceeded twelve to fifteen, with an abbot presiding over all. During the 9th century the monastery was sacked several times by the Vikings, but managed to survive and grew over the next two centuries.
At the end of the 12th century Skellig Michael had been abandoned by the monks in favor of the Augustinian monastery of Ballinskelligs. For the following centuries it remained abandoned, until it began to attract pilgrims in the 16th century. While these pilgrims didn’t stay very long, he still brought life back into the rock.
During the 19th century, Skellig Michael was again home to a permanent population, this time in the form of lighthouse workers to guard the newly built lighthouses. One of these beacons continues to function, although it no longer requires a keeper.
Skellig Michael, due to its remoteness and difficulty to reach, has not been visited often since its abandonment by the monks until recently. As a result, it has survived incredibly well and offers a fascinating insight into the life of a first millennium ascetic monk.
Since the 1960s a tourist board has managed the island and made it more accessible to visitors. Along with this increased exposure has come some damage to the site and authorities are trying to limit the amount of tourists visiting lest the damage become too severe.
The boat trip from the mainland takes about an hour and a half and can be a very wet journey, even on relatively calm days. The views are remarkable, with the boat passing Little Skellig, with its huge populations of resident birds.
A number of people offer guided tours of Skellig Michael and will explain what the particular architectural quirks were for. Back on the mainland, the Skellig Experience Museum displays pictures and tells stories and stories about the island’s residents and place in Irish history. For any visitor to County Kerry, Skellig Michael is a must see site.
