Skellig Michael storm damage worse than feared
However, it is still thought the Unesco World Heritage Site will open to visitors in time for the tourist season which begins on May 14.
There was no damage caused to the monastic settlement itself.
Principal officer of the OPW national monuments section, Frank Shalvey, said the damage was worse than expected along lighthouse road and was a “significant scar” on the island’s slopes.
An assessment carried out by the OPW last week found significant damage to the wall on the lighthouse road from the pier to the South Steps, leading to the monastery, had been caused by rockfall from above. The displacement of material was due to excessive salt from sea spray that first caused a significant amount of vegetation to die back which rendered the soil unstable.
Coupled with torrential and sustained winter rains, it led to rock material on higher slopes becoming loosened and cascading on to the road below, causing the evident destruction.
Mr Shalvey said the extent of the damage was only evident once OPW staff arrived on the island.
He told Radio Kerry: “There’s quite a significant scar up on the slopes above the road, which is where it came from quite obviously.”
He added that although the repairs to the wall would not be completed ahead of the tourist season, temporary safety measures would be put in place.
“It will be a risk but by erecting safety railings and barriers, we figure we can get people past that spot on the road, in single file and with supervision.”
Mr Shalvey said he did not know the cost of the repairs but expected these would also be significant given the off-shore location of the site.
There is also evidence a second area of wall was compromised and this will have to be addressed in addition to the main, more obvious breach.
