| Skellig Michael * | |
|---|---|
| Country | Ireland |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | iii, iv |
| Reference | 757 |
| Region ** | Europe and North America |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 1996 (20th Session) |
| * Name as inscribed on World Heritage List ** Region as classified by UNESCO |
|
Skellig Michael (from Sceilig Mhichíl in the Irish language, meaning Michael's rock), also known as Great Skellig, is a steep rocky island in the Atlantic Ocean about 9 miles (14.5 kilometres) from the coast of County Kerry, Ireland. It is the larger of the two Skellig Islands. After probably being founded in the 7th century, for 600 years the island was a centre of monastic life for Irish Christian monks. The Gaelic monastery, which is situated almost at the summit of the 230-metre-high rock 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.
Contents |
Landmarks include The Needle's Eye, The Spit, Christ's Valley and The Hermitage.
In Irish Celtic mythology Skellig Michael is said to be the burial grounds of Ir, one of the sons of Miled who perished at the hands of the Tuatha De Danaan during the 'Coming of the Gael'. Ir's son, Eimhir, would inherit the province of Ulster after the battle of Tailltin. Notable Irish heroes such as Fergus, son of Rogh (The high king of Ulster prior to Conchubar MacNessa and teacher of Cuchulain) and Conall Cearnach of the Red Branch belonged to the line of Ir.http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/gafm/gafm09.htm
Along with its smaller neighbor, 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.
Each year 13 boat licenses are granted to tour operators[1] who each run a single trip to Skellig Michael each day during the summer season (April to October, inclusive), weather permitting. For safety reasons, because the steps up to the monastery are rock, steep, and old, climbs are not permitted during very wet or windy weather.There are also dive sites immediately around the rock.[2]
At the 2008 meeting of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, the Office of Public Works, the Irish agency that manages Skellig Michael, came under criticism for its policies concerning the reconstruction (anastylosis) of ruins there. Critics argued that insufficient scholarly investigation and documentation of the sites had been carried out prior to reconstruction, and that insufficient effort was made to distinguish rebuilt contemporary elements from the historic fabric.[3]
|
|||||||||||