Visiting season extention for Skellig Michael refused

Tourism interests as well as boat operators who ferry passengers to a Unesco world heritage site are dismayed at the refusal of the OPW to extend the visiting season there.

OPW Minister Simon Harris confirmed the season for Skellig Michael, 12km off the south Kerry coast, for 2015 will run from May 15 to September 30. He said any extension of that timeframe would not be feasible.

Upwards of 14 boats take thousands of people to Skellig and one long-time boatman, Seanie Murphy, yesterday described the short season as an “absolute scandal’’.

“Here we have one arm of the state, Bord Fáilte, trying to encourage people to come here while another, the OPW, keeps one of the main signature points on the Wild Atlantic Way closed for much of the tourist season,’’ he said.

Prior to 2007, the Skellig season ran from April 1 to October 30, but the OPW then decided to limit the season from mid-May to mid-September, citing conservation reasons.

Boatman Eoin Walsh said craft were licensed by the Department of the Marine to operate from April 1 to October 31, yet the OPW decided to restrict the season.

“The season is short enough for people trying to make a livelihood — nobody can be deprived of earning a living,’’ Mr Walsh said.

The OPW will not permit visitors to land on Skellig — scene of a three-day Star Wars movie shoot last July — unless guides are on duty .

Mr Harris, who was replying to a request for a longer season from Kerry Fine Gael TD Brendan Griffin, said previous attempts to keep the site open later led to a curtailment at short notice due to adverse weather.

Mr Harris said it was not possible to open the site to the public any earlier.