Significant damage to Skellig Micheal caused by rockfall

Damage to the main visitor path on Skellig Michael, the Unesco World Heritage island off Kerry, has been significant but will not delay the official visiting season which begins in May, according to the Office of Public Works.

The monastic site perched on top of the island is undamaged. The damage to the Lighthouse Path, the main visitor path from the landing pier, was spotted this month by a Skellig boatman and is even more significant than first thought, the OPW said, following an inspection earlier this week.

The OPW is warning the public that the island is “extremely dangerous” and potential visitors are not to go onto the island “under any circumstances” until it opens officially. If they do, they will be trespassing.