Kerry’s Skellig Michael may re-open to visitors on July 2nd, after a minor rockfall forced a temporary closure of the UNESCO world heritage site.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) told RTÉ News that specialist teams assessed the site and have removed debris, and cautioned that re-opening in a week’s time is subject to weather conditions.
"Our staff, supported by experts and colleagues in the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, are currently on site and are taking all necessary steps to enable a safe return of visitors within the shortest possible turnaround time while strictly adhering to any environmental and other legal obligations imposed at this UNESCO World Heritage Site that is, at the same time, a sanctuary for breeding sea birds,”Minister of State Patrick O’Donovan said.
This year’s season on the island 12 km off the Kerry coast began on May 15th, but the island was closed on June 13th after the rockfall that day. No one was injured in the incident, the OPW said.
However, earlier this week Birdwatch Ireland expressed concern about the potential impacts of safety measures being taken on Skellig Michael, following the recent rockfall.
The independent bird conservation organisation said it had not been consulted to date about “sweeping operations” on Skellig Michael, designed to remove any loose rock material.
Birdwatch Ireland said it was concerned about the negative impact of such “sweeping” on sensitive nesting birds on the island.
The sixth-century monastic site is an internationally important habitat for seabirds and is home to some of the largest breeding populations of Manx shearwater and storm petrel in the world. Its high cliffs and ledges also support nesting sites for puffins, fulmars, kittiwakes and guillemots.
It was used as a set for Star Wars, which also caused some concern about the impact on such a sensitive habitat.
Last February The Irish Examiner reported that Grellan Rourke the former site manager at Skellig Michael who worked on the island for more than 40 years, had described filming scenes for two Star Wars episodes there as “inappropriate”.
Rourke claimed many visitors to the world heritage site were now more interested in its Hollywood depiction rather than its ancient history.
Skellig Michael was used for filming scenes for both The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.
The NPWS said it “has been liaising with the National Monuments Service and the OPW in relation to the recent rockfall on Skelligs, and follow up work, including ‘sweeping’ of the area concerned and possible further Health and Safety responses”.
“This work, including assessments and monitoring in relation to the bird populations, is ongoing,” the NPWS parent department – Housing – said.
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