Star Wars & Skellig Tour
The Skelligs Rocks are located 13km south of Valentia Island. Skellig Michael also known as Great Skellig now designated as a UNESCO world heritage site.is the larger of the two islands with two peaks rising to over 230 m above sea level and a sixth-century Christian Monastery perched at 160 m above sea level on a ledge close to the top of the lower peak,
The monastic site on Skellig Micheal is reached by climbing over five hundred steps via a 1000 year old stone stairway. Stone beehive huts where monks lived and prayed centuries ago cling to cliff edges alongside oratories, a cemetery, stone crosses, holy wells and the Church of St Michael.
Both of the Skellig islands are known for their seabird colonies, and together comprise one of the most important seabird sites in Ireland, both for the population size and for the species diversity. The small Skellig is home to almost 30,000 pairs of gannets, the second largest colony of such sea birds in the world.
The surrounding waters have abundant wildlife with many Grey Seal, Basking Shark, Minke Whale, Dolphin and Beaked Whale, The islands have many interesting recreational diving sites due to the clear water, an abundance of life, and underwater cliffs down to 60 meters (200 feet).
The final scene of Star Wars: The Force Awakens was shot on Skellig in July 2015, with additional filming taking place there in September 2015 for the following film in the series, Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The remains of the Skellig Michael monastery appear in the film, representing an ancient Jedi temple. Earlier, the Skellig Islands served as a location in the Werner Herzog 1976 movie Heart of Glass, where the islands feature in one of the prophecies by the seer Hias.
Boat trips to The Skelligs are available from the fishing village of Portmagee, numbers are limited to about 150 people per day so it is advisable to BOOK EARLY to ensure you get your place on the boats. This boat trip gives you the opportunity to experience the magnificent natural monuments first hand and spend time on Skellig Micheal or you can also take a different boat trip, stay on board and view the rocks from the sea. You may want to stay on dry land and visit the Skellig Experience Centre on the waterfront beside the Valentia Island bridge. Those who do make the journey are rewarded with a spellbinding, edge-of-the-earth experience with 500 steps leading to a remote, early Christian outpost.
As the boats depart Portmagee at 9.30am this requires an early start from your accommodation. Our driver/guide will collect you at your accommodation at 8 a.m, travel along the scenic Ring of Kerry to Portmagee village. We will collect you on your return from the Rock and we will visit St Finian’s Bay where you can visit the Skellig Chocolate Factory for a coffee and a free chocolate tasting. We will progress to McCarthy’s Castle and then return to your accommodation.
