"Great and Small Skellig" Great Skelligs by JLBG

Great Skelligs Travel Guide: 63 reviews and 107 photos

The Skelligs is an archipelago with two main islands, Little Skellig and Great Skellig and several islets. They stand in front of Saint Finian’s bay, approximately ten miles off the coast of Kerry.

Skellig Michael

Skellig Michael (from Sceilig Mhichíl in the Irish language, meaning Michael's rock), is the other name of Great Skellig

Skellig Michael is one of Europe's better known but least accessible monasteries. It was inscribed in 1995 on the World Heritage list.
The Committee decided to inscribe the nominated property on the basis of cultural criteria (iii) and (iv) considering that the site is of outstanding universal value being an exceptional, and in many respects unique example of an early religious settlement deliberately sited on a pyramidal rock in the ocean, preserved because of a remarkable environment. It illustrates, as no other site can, the extremes of a Christian monasticism characterizing much of North Africa, the Near East and Europe.

Skellig Michael

Small Skellig is a bird sanctuary and is not allowed for visits.

Last visit to Great Skelligs: Aug 1991
Intro Updated Sep 1, 2011
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Reviews (25)

Map borrowed to the quoted link - Great Skelligs

The St Michael-Apollo Axis Favorites (2)

While I searched if the pilgrims that went to Skellig Michael visited also Mont St. Michel and Sacra di San Michele, I... more travel advice

Other St Michel’s sanctuaries - Great Skelligs

Other St Michel’s sanctuaries Favorites (2)

Four main Saint Michel’s Sanctuary standing on top of sharp rocks, “midway between earth and god”. They are and easily... more travel advice

Back to the mainland Things to Do (23)

On the way back, we had a last look at Small Skellig with its birds (first photo) The second photo was taken when we... more travel advice

Goodby Blind’s man Cove and Skellig Michael. - Great Skelligs

Goodby Blind’s man Cove and Skellig... Things to Do (23)

There are now restrictions to the visits as too many visitors on the fragile ecosystem of the island has been found to... more travel advice

Comments (14)

Yaqui Jul 8, 2010 at 7:01 AM Report Abuse

Wow, I am a land lover, but this place would be tempting to see it. What hardships the monks must have endured to live there, it had to be the beauty of the place. Excellent page!
budapest8 Nov 20, 2009 at 11:31 PM Report Abuse

I made the trip here about 40 years ago while on a holiday in a VW camper to Eireland.. Remember being seasick in the boat and the birds circling around the smaller Skellig.Yr tips & photos are amazing. thx for sharing.
jumpingnorman Aug 8, 2009 at 6:54 PM Report Abuse

Would love to climb Christ's Saddle! I think I did see the Gannet in Iceland - largest seabird ...Those beehive huts are awesome! And view from South Peak Base...wow. Skellig is truly a bird's paradise! Norman :)
junecorlett May 12, 2009 at 7:22 AM Report Abuse

Beautiful, beautiful, I fear heights, but this must not be missed!!
craic Apr 21, 2009 at 9:00 AM Report Abuse

what an amazing place - very interesting indeed
travelgourmet Mar 17, 2009 at 8:16 AM Report Abuse

Jean-Louis. Now I know where the leprechauns be hiding. Top O' the Morn'in to Ye!. Being St. Patty's Day, all are Irish today. Maybe blarney, but hey, a reason to celebrate. Larry
Elisabcn Nov 15, 2008 at 12:17 PM Report Abuse

wonderful page about the skellings, JL! very interesting tips and nice pictures, merci. Apart from the skellings i wanted to visit m sant michel and la sagra di san michele but i did not know about their link... bonne soirée de tunis, elisa
evaanna Jul 9, 2008 at 5:49 AM Report Abuse

What an amazing place! I can't imagine people actually living there and yet they did. And how could those dry stone walls weather all the storms throughout the centuries? What a wonderful virtual tour! Thanks Jean-Louis.
globetrott Apr 12, 2008 at 10:21 AM Report Abuse

Hi Jean-Louis, that is a really interesting page about a place I also enjoyed very much, and interesting to learn about the Saint Michael’s Ways & Axis, I never had heared about it before !
scottishvisitor Mar 4, 2008 at 1:16 PM Report Abuse

What a wonderous isolated spot this is a perfect place for a sanctuary for the monks of old - I'm glad tourism is limited here although I would love to visit!