Skellig Michael

Welcome to Skellig Michael, an extraordinary, sheer rocky outcropping rising from the Atlantic Ocean, some 11.6 kilometers west of the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry. This is a place described by many as being at the very edge…

Your journey begins at the landing pier, where the sheer scale of Skellig Michael becomes immediately apparent. From here, you follow the path toward the South Steps, the main route up to the monastery. …

About halfway up the climb, you reach a flat, grassy area known as 'Christ’s Saddle.' This is the only significant patch of level land on the island, situated between the two peaks. It serves as a natural resting point for modern…

As you reach the upper levels of the climb, you enter the monastic enclosure. The monks established their community on a terraced shelf approximately 600 feet above sea level. …

Let us examine the beehive huts, or 'clocháns,' more closely. From the outside, they appear circular, but once inside, you’ll notice they are actually square or rectangular at the floor level. …

Adjacent to the beehive huts is St. Michael’s Church, a structure built later, likely in the eleventh or twelfth century. …

In the twenty-first century, Skellig Michael has found a new kind of fame as the planet Ahch-To in the Star Wars sequels. Director Rian Johnson was inspired by the island’s true history—the idea of a hermit seeking a remote place…

As you prepare to descend the 600 steps and return to the mainland, take a final look around this 'place lost in time in a galaxy far, far away.' We have explored the incredible engineering of the steps, the agricultural…