Skellig Islands (Island Week 6)
The Skellig Islands are located 13km of Ireland’s south west Kerry coast. In 1996 Skellig Michael was designated as a UNESCO world heritage site due to the presence of an early religious settlement, which due to the extreme remoteness of the island has remained exceptionally well preserved. Little Skellig is the smaller of the islands. It is closed to the public and is a important bird sanctuary, home to the world’s second-largest Northern Gannet colony. Skellig Michael (Sceilig Mhichíl in Irish), or Michael’s Rock is also known as Great Skellig. In the 6th or 7th Century, monks settled…