A decade after Star Wars, what is the lasting impact on Skellig Michael?

It's 10 years since Star Wars put Skellig Michael on the international map. A decade on, Gemma Tipton visits to see the lasting impact

Little Skellig with Skellig Michael in distance. Picture: Gemma Tipton

Ten years ago, the force awakened on Skellig Michael/Sceilg Mhichíl, when the seventh instalment of Star Wars premiered in Hollywood, and fans discovered that the astonishing rock at the edge of the Atlantic, previously famed for monks and puffins, was the hideout of a certain Luke Skywalker. They came in their droves from around the world, raising the profile of west Kerry.

Daisy Ridley as Rey and Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker in a scene from the movie “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” filmed on Skellig Michael, Ireland.(Jonathan Olley / Jonathan Olley / Lucasfilm Ltd.)