Skellig Michael

Infobox World Heritage Site
WHS = Skellig Michael


State Party = IRL
Type = Cultural
Criteria = iii, iv
ID = 757
Region = Europe and North America
Year = 1996
Session = 20th
Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/757

Skellig Michael (from "Sceilig Mhichíl" in the Irish language, meaning "Michael's rock"), also known as Great Skellig, is a steep rocky island about 15 kilometres west off the coast of County Kerry, Ireland. It is the larger of the two Skellig Islands.For 600 years the island was an important centre of monastic life for Irish Christian monks. An Irish Celtic monastery, which is situated almost at the summit of the 230-metre-high rock, was built in 588, and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. It is one of Europe's better known but least accessible monasteries.

Since the extreme remoteness of Skellig Michael has until recently discouraged visitors, the site is exceptionally well preserved. The very spartan conditions inside the monastery illustrate the ascetic lifestyle practiced by early Irish Christians. The monks lived in stone 'beehive' huts (clochans), perched above nearly vertical cliff walls.

History

Irish commemorative coin celebrating the UNESCO Heritage Site of Skellig Michael.The monastery on Skellig Michael survived a number of Viking raids in the 9th century, notably in 823, was later significantly expanded, with a new chapel built around the start of the second millennium. The community at Skellig Michael was apparently never large - probably about 12 monks and an abbot. Some time in the 12th century the monks abandoned the Skellig and moved to the Augustinian Monastery at Ballinskelligs on the mainland.

Starting in the 1500s, Skellig Michael became a popular destination for annual pilgrimages, but had no permanent residents. In the 19th century two lighthouses were built and the Great Skellig was again inhabited, this time by a changing rota of lighthouse keepers. The second lighthouse still operates, though it was largely rebuilt during the 1960s and has been automated since the 1980s. In 1986 some restoration work was done and an official tourist bureau associated with the island was established. However restrictions have recently been imposed on tourist access, in the belief that tourist numbers (in particular use of the ancient stone steps up the rock) were causing a worrying degree of damage to the site. Alternative methods that would preserve the site while allowing public access are being considered.

On Monday, 30 July 2007, long-distance swimmer Robert Bohane from Ballinhassig in County Cork became the first person to ever swim from Skellig Michael to the mainland. The swim began at 09:07 and ended 6 hours and 29 minutes later when Robert landed at the slip in Portmagee to approximately 200 family, friends and supporters. The swim was 18.7 km (11.6 miles) in length.

Nature reserve

Along with its smaller neighbour, Little Skellig, Great Skellig is an important nature reserve. Between them the Skelligs hold nationally important populations of a number of seabirds, including Gannet, Fulmar, Kittiwake, Razorbill, Common Guillemot, and Atlantic Puffin. Storm Petrels and Manx Shearwaters also nest in large numbers.

ee also

* List of abbeys and priories in the Republic of Ireland (County Kerry)
* The popular children's book "Skellig" by David Almond features a boy named Michael.
* Loreena McKennitt's song "Skellig" relates the dying words of a monk from this monastery.
* Christian monasticism
* Hermits

External links

* [http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=757 World Heritage web page]
* [http://ark.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/ft1d5nb0gb/ The Forgotten Hermitage - very thorough website]
* [http://www.sacred-destinations.com/ireland/images/skellig-michael-huts-c-sacredsites-200h.jpgSkellig Monastery photos]
* [http://www.pierreseche.com/mythe_skellig.html A 1994 reappraisal - in French - of the island's dry stone vestiges]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONhSF8VTvsg Video of BBC show "Coast" visit to Sceig Michael]