Ireland: Skellig Michael
Sceilg Mhichíl, or Skellig Michael, is a site of significant cultural, archaeological, and environmental importance. Along with Little Skellig, Sceilg Mhichíl, also known as Great Skellig, form the Skellig Rocks, or Islands. Translating to the “steep rock of Micheál,” referencing Archangel Michael, Sceilg Mhichíl is thought to have acquired its name in the 9th or 10th centuries. The island appears in Irish folklore and has been referenced in history as early as 1400 BC. According to Irish mythology, Sceilg Mhichíl is the burial place of one of the three sons of Míl Espáine, the ancestors of the Gaels.
Geologically, the Skellig Rocks are essentially sea crags that rise above the Atlantic Ocean, representing the end of a mountain chain that runs from the westernmost Iveragh Peninsula on the mainland. They are located approximately 12 km off the tip of the peninsula. Sceilg Mhichíl itself covers an area of about 22 hectares. The island has two peaks, with the highest reaching 218 metres above sea level, and the lower peak approximately 185 metres. The col between these peaks essentially serves as the centre of the island. Composed of Devonian sandstone, this col is known as Christ’s Saddle. Due to its exposed location in the Atlantic, the rock is significantly eroded and weathered. However, the overall climate remains mild, and frost is rare.
The Skelligs are owned by the Irish government through the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with the exception of the lower lighthouse, which is owned by the statutory body the Commissioners of Irish Lights (CIL). Sceilg Mhichíl is a national monument and is managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW). It holds several designations that attest to its significance as a heritage site. It is a Special Protection Area under the EU directive. In 1996, UNESCO inscribed the island of Sceilg Mhichíl onto the World Heritage List in recognition of its outstanding universal value. Sceilg Mhichíl is one of ten historic sites worldwide chosen for an initiative aimed at protecting them from damage caused by climate change. Both Skelligs are part of Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí, Ireland’s first marine national park. Sceilg Mhichíl features monuments of dry stone construction, an ancient Irish practice of dry stone wall building that has been included in UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage.
Conservation work began in the 1880s, with a suite of extensive conser- vation measures occurring up until the 1970s. However, it was in the mid-1980s that major conservation work and archaeological investigations began. This work has continued to the present day, with current conservation efforts being directed towards the lighthouse infrastructure on the rock.