Sceilg Mhichíl (Skellig Michael), World Heritage Site in Ireland

Sceilg Mhichíl (Skellig Michael) is the site of a monastery built on a pyramid-shaped island.A small structure still remains on the isolated island and is revered as a sacred place. It is also famous for being used as a filming location for the movie Star Wars.

Here, a World Heritage enthusiast explains why Sceilg Mhichíl (Skellig Michael) is a World Heritage Site in an easy-to-understand manner. Read this and you will definitely learn more about Sceilg Mhichíl!

Who is Sceilg Mhichíl (Skellig Michael)?

The English name is Skellig Michael. It is an isolated island located about 12 km west of the peninsula of Kerry in the southwestern part of the island. There are two large rocky mountains on the island, the southwestern of which is 218 meters high.

It is believed that in the process of Christianity’s introduction to the main island of Ireland in the 5th to 6th century, this place was also turned into a monastery. It is not known when exactly the site was venerated as a sacred place, but it is believed to have become a monastery dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel in at least the 10th or 11th century.

The monastery was abandoned later, however, and the stone buildings are relatively well-preserved and the architectural style of the time is still evident today. The 600 stone steps leading up to the monastery are a spectacular view, and the area is now famous as a tourist destination.

Incidentally, perhaps because of its isolation from the mainland, the island is also famous as a colony for seabirds such as the white-breasted nuthatch, and the island is a nature reserve.

For what reason is Sceilg Mhichíl (Skellig Michael)on the World Heritage List?

Shkellig Vihil was recognized by

Registration Criteria (iii)
The fact that it has unique characteristics that are never found among the Christian monasteries scattered throughout North Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.

Registration Criteria (iv)
That it is a unique example of early Christian church architecture built on a pyramid-shaped rock island that retains its unique characteristics to this day.

World Heritage Mania Conclusions and Comments

Nowadays, this landscape inevitably conjures up images of Luke Skywalker living here, but in reality it is the remains of a monastery that has been inhabited since the 10th century or so.Monasteries have always been located in harsh environments, and this is a particularly unique example.

As you will see when you actually go there, the island is easily affected by the wind, and there are often days when it is impossible to land properly due to the constant high waves. It is amazing to think that such a stone church was built in the 10th or 11th century in such a situation, and to think of the skill and perseverance that went into its construction….In fact, it is a difficult heritage site to visit because even tourists have to be lucky to land there.

*The contents here are considerations derived from research conducted by World Heritage enthusiasts.A s for the data, interpretation differs depending on the media.