INVEST
SUSTAINABILITY
Visit Work Live Greenways
Explore

Skellig Islands

The Skellig islands - Skellig Michael / Sceilg Mhicicíl and Little Skellig, lie 12km off the coast and the majestic and dramatic Skellig Michael bursts 218 meters above sea level.

On Skellig Michael, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you will find a remote monastery dated from the 6th Century and despite the exposed seascape the monks remained on the Island until the 13th Century. The Island is home now to a range of wild sea birds and animals including gannets and guillemots and the islands support some of the largest collections of Manx Sheerwaters and Puffins in the world.

Part of the wonder of Skellig Michael for visitors is the ability to follow in the time-worn footsteps of the monks on Skellig Michael dating almost 1,500 years old. There are hundreds of individually-carved winding, stone steps leading up to the monastery and at the top you will see six beehive huts where the monks slept, a church dedicated to St Michael, a walled garden, an early oratory and a cemetery with 22 grave slabs on the grounds.

Aptly described by playwright Bernard Shaw as “a part of our dream world” it is easy to understand the allure of these islands for the filmmakers behind Star Wars, and for monks and pilgrims for over a thousand years.

The islands are also world famous as JJ Abrahams, Daisy Ridley and Mark Hamill filmed Star Wars movies The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi on Skellig Michael, with the cast and crew spending time in nearby Portmagee as scenes were filmed in Kerry.

Boat trips around and to the islands are available, with a strict limitation placed on the amount of people that can visit Skellig Michael. For all boat trips and activities connected with the Skellig islands, visit the Skellig Coast page.

The Skellig Experience Visitor Centre is a must visit attraction while visiting the area, and the islands themselves are a Wild Atlantic Way Discovery Point. 

Explore the Skellig Coast

What's On

See All Events
See All Events

Find your new favourites

Discover your perfect stay, catch a show, explore attractions or try a new food experience.

Stories from Kerry

Grounded in heritage yet open to ideas, Kerry is a place to gain and share perspective. Keep exploring the county with our latest blogs.

Things To Do
Ursula Jacob Explores Kerry in Ireland's Tracks & Trails

Tune into RTE One / RTE Player on Friday 26th April at 7.30pm to watch former Wexford Camogie Player and RTE analyst Ursula Jacob discover two coastal trails in Co. Kerry on Series 11 of Ireland's Tracks & Trails. Throughout the series, well-known presenters explore trails throughout Ireland…

Brian Morrison, Failte Ireland Content Pool

Sustainability
Kerry 19th in World on Global Destination Sustainability Index

Congratulations to Co. Kerry - which as a region continues to make an impact on the global sustainability stage - and out of 100 destinations benchmarked, including 42 new participants in the 2023 Global Destination Sustainability Index, Kerry ranks 19th overall, remaining in the top 20 benchmarked…

Kerry_Writers_Museum_Listowel_Co_Kerry_master

Things To Do
The Local's Guide to Kerry

When visiting new places what better information can you gather than that of the locals. We are delighted to share local knowledge of some great things to discover in Kerry. The following are tips and information from locals, who of course, love Kerry and are passionate about their beautiful county.

Bromore_Cliffs_Ballybunnion_Co_Kerry_Web_Size

10 Breathtaking Walks That Won't Leave You Breathless

Kerry has some of the most beautiful landscapes you can find - and what better way to soak in that beauty than a leisurely stroll through some of Kerry’s most magical walkways and trails? Here’s a list of 10 walks which will leave you speechless, without leaving you breathless! Nestled in the Slieve…

Live in Kerry

Find out what living and working in Kerry is really like in the words of the locals who thrive here.

Work in Kerry

Discover the many reasons why County Kerry is the perfect destination for your business events or expansion.

Submit your event

You can now enter your own event directly onto our website, free of charge.

Submit event

© Copyright 2024 Discoverkerry.com. All Rights Reserved.

Made by Simpleview