How Did a First Visit to Skellig Michael Started New Adventure
Six years ago, Paola came to Ireland for the very first time. Her destination: Skellig Michael, the mystical monastic island that rises dramatically from the Atlantic Ocean. Planning the trip with a group of students, she consulted a guidebook, which mentioned just two piers that facilitated the select number of boats who are licensed to land on the UNESCO World Heritage Site - Portmagee and Ballinskelligs. Her next decision changed everything.
“I don’t know why, but something inside told me to go from Ballinskelligs. When I arrived, I felt a special resonance. I fell in love immediately with Ballinskelligs Bay — the energy, the light, the sense of peace. It felt like I had arrived somewhere sacred.”
The trip to Skellig Michael left her in awe. Known the world over as a UNESCO World Heritage site with many areas of protected environmental islands and areas all around, now within Ireland’s first marine national park, Páirc Naisiúnta na Mara, the island awakened what she describes as a “mystical dimension” — a powerful inner experience connected to its 6th–7th century monastic history. That first visit has since led to many returns, each time revealing something new and unexpected.
Bringing the Monks’ Voices to Life
Following her visits, and after publishing two books on sacred sites linked to the Archangel Michael’s leyline across Europe, Paola felt called to bring the story of Skellig Michael to screen. Her documentary, Skellig Michael: The Monks’ Island, was filmed entirely in Ireland and includes interviews with experts, historians, and spiritual guides.
“This was not just a film, it was a calling — to give voice to the monks who lived there so many centuries ago, and to the silence that still surrounds them. What heritage and what mystery does this special rock hold? The belief in the spiritual power of Archangel Michael endures and invites pilgrims to listen to the sound of the past — a sound that speaks to the soul.’’
The documentary explores what Paola calls the “powerful energy and spirituality” of the island, often referred to as “The Cathedral in the Ocean. We’re delighted to share an exclusive preview from Skellig Michael: The Monks’ Island — an atmospheric glimpse into the story of the monks and the energy of the island:
The Stars Look Down
Skellig Michael — its isolation, beauty, and clarity of sky — also reignited another of Paola’s lifelong fascinations: the stars.
“The monks contemplated the stars. And they remind us to continue to do the same. For me, the stars are like angels — they watch over us from above. This book is for all those seeking light, to begin a transformation like the caterpillar becoming a butterfly.’’
In 2017, she wrote a book in Italian about the role of stars in human evolution. She has now completed the English version, titled The Stars Look Down. The book blends astronomy, literature, science, and spirituality, exploring how starlight influences human growth and awareness.
“There is a reason I return here. Kerry is a land that holds something ancient, something alive — and for me, it’s a place where the stars seem a little closer.
A Creative Journey Across Kerry
After an intensive summer in Kerry in 2025, filmmaker and writer Paola Bizarri travelled across the county promoting her documentary about Skellig Michael.
Events were organised in Caherciveen, Portmagee, Valentia Island, Killorglin, Ballinskelligs and Waterville, where audiences had the opportunity to learn more about the island and its remarkable monastic history.
With the arrival of autumn, Paola stepped back from events to dedicate time to a new project — writing a book inspired by the monks who lived on Skellig Michael in the 6th century.
A New Chapter: Writing The Glancing Rock
Her newest book, The Glancing Rock, is a historical fiction novel inspired by the monks who lived on Skellig Michael during the 6th century.
The story follows a fictional pilgrim who travels through Turkey and the Mediterranean for more than fifteen years before eventually arriving in Ireland, where he becomes part of the early Christian monastic world. Blending imagination with real historical events from 6th-century Europe, the novel explores themes of pilgrimage, faith and transformation.
For visitors exploring the Skellig Coast and the Ring of Kerry, this story reflects the deep spiritual heritage that still shapes the region today.
Launching at Listowel Writers’ Week
Paola will participate in the Listowel Writers’ Week Award 2026, where her new book ''The Glancing Rock'' will be launched for the first time (Details will followed).
Each year, the festival brings together writers, poets and readers from around the world for a week of readings, workshops, discussions and performances. The event celebrates storytelling in all forms while showcasing Kerry as a place where creativity continues to thrive.
For Paola, launching the book during Writers’ Week feels like a natural continuation of the inspiration she discovered while exploring Kerry’s historic landscapes. She hopes the book will receive a warm reception as audiences experience the story inspired by the monks of Skellig Michael / Sceilig Michíl and the journeys of early Christian Europe.
