Significant damage to Skellig Micheal caused by rockfall
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.
Inspectors have determined the path damage was caused by rockfall, a common occurrence on the barren island, which was recently seen in the latest Star Wars film.
“The damage to the wall was, it is now evident, caused primarily by rockfall from above, which is an ever-present risk at Sceilig Mhichíl, particularly in this location,” the OPW said in a statement.
“It would appear that the current displacement of material has been caused by a combination of factors; excessive salt from sea spray has first caused a significant amount of vegetation on the island to die back and this has rendered the soil unstable. This effect, coupled with the torrential and sustained winter rains, has then led rock material on higher slopes to become loosened, cascading onto the road below and causing the destruction we have seen.”
The damage is significant and is even more extensive than first thought. A second area of walling which, though it has not collapsed completely, is severely compromised and will possibly have to be addressed in addition to the main, most obvious, breach, read the statement.
“The OPW Heritage Service reminds potential visitors that the island remains in an extremely dangerous condition and should not, under no circumstances, be accessed by anyone other than the official project team and their contractors.
“Any visitors accessing the island in advance of the season will be committing a trespass and will be exposing themselves to considerable risk. Visitor access, when it is restored, will have to be strictly supervised, given that it will be passing in close proximity to a work site; however, it is envisaged that this can be managed safely on a controlled basis and visitors will therefore be able to traverse the affected section and proceed onwards to the monastery ascent.
“The monastery itself is, it has been confirmed, entirely undamaged and, apart from clearing of winter debris, will be available for visitors to enjoy as normal.”
Around 10,000 people visit Skellig Michael annually, most visitors going by boat from Portmagee or Ballinskelligs.
