THE United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has called for a risk assessment and a visitor carrying capacity study to be completed as soon as possible on Skellig Michael, off the Kerry coast.

SCALING the steps to the Skellig Michael monastery is like “a mountaineering activity”, known as “scrambling”, in which the hands are used to balance, a safety review has warned.

A FUNDAMENTAL review of safety on Skellig Michael is to be carried out following the second death this year after a fall on the rock, Minister of State for the Office of Public Works (OPW) Martin Mansergh confirmed yesterday.

A 57-YEAR-OLD American woman died yesterday after sustaining serious head injuries in a fall on Skellig Michael, the UNESCO world heritage site lying 12km off the south Kerry coast.