Up to 20,000 Cory’s Shearwaters, oceanic birds with 1.25m wingspans, were breed on the Selvagem Islands, 280 km south of Madeira. Big, meaty birds, the squabs were traditionally harvested and salted for food. Monks on Skellig Michael similarly harvested gannet squabs from Small Skellig, writes Damien Enright

Mike O’Shea, adventurer and owner of Work at Height, which looked after the logistics of getting cast, crew and equipment onto Skellig Michael, said: “We knew what they wanted us to know even though we were heavily involved but it’s a very secretive industry.

AFTER years playing second fiddle to West Cork, Kerry’s foodies are on a roll.