Minister O’Donovan visits Skellig Michael to view progress on several conservation and planned refurbishment projects

Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), Mr Patrick O’Donovan, T.D. last week visited Skellig Michael, one of Ireland’s two Unesco World Heritage Sites, to view progress on a number of current conservation and refurbishment projects undertaken by the OPW’s Conservation Services. The island off the South Kerry Coast is home to a 6th-century monastery at its very top as well as a sanctuary to breeding sea birds such as the Skellig Michael puffins. However, there are also two lighthouses dating to 1821 and a fog station from 1914 which the OPW is currently working to refurbish.

Making his way up the steep path that leads from the pier to the beehives of the monastic site, Minister O’Donovan stopped at the Upper Lighthouse, which the OPW intends to re-roof and refurbish to accommodate a visitor centre and OPW staff accommodation. Plans are also being prepared for the refurbishment of the Lower Lighthouse Keeper’s house to accommodate OPW staff and external consultants visiting the island.

Skellig Michael’s remote location in the Atlantic creates numerous issues as an operational visitor site not least its accessibility, which is weather-dependent and its ancient, uneven monastic steps that pose a very real challenge to staff and visitors. Each year, a six-week routine of maintenance works has to be carried out prior to reopening, which will be completed soon in time for reopening to visitors on 1 July. Until this year, there were no visitor toilets on the island. However, improving toilet and hygiene facilities on the island has become a critical issue following the Covid-19 pandemic and the OPW has therefore made the provision of new visitor toilets in the 2021 season a priority.

Other planned work includes repairs to the lighthouse road to enable access as well as repairing and refurbishing the fog station, constructed by the Commissioners of Irish Lights in June 1914, to create a viewing platform area for visitors.

Looking forward to Skellig’s reopening next week, Minister O’Donovan said:

“I understand the massive importance of this rock to the south-west Kerry region and to the wider national tourism industry. With us being able to open it and bring people back here, I believe it can be used as a symbol of hope for us going forward, out of what has been a very difficult time. This is a magnificent place, hewn out of rock in the middle of the Atlantic. It is a jaw-dropping experience. This place is really part of what we are and who we are. For the monks who came out here long ago it was about hope in terms of their faith and I think reopening this island is a beacon of hope for us today in our journey out of Covid.”

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