Featured: Explore Scotland (and everywhere else) with our Megalithic Portal iPhone app

Explore Scotland (and everywhere else) with our Megalithic Portal iPhone app

Random Image


D2 Westervelde

A Guide to Stone Circles (New Edition), Aubrey Burl

A Guide to Stone Circles (New Edition), Aubrey Burl

Who's Online

There are currently, 362 guests and 1 members online.

You are a guest. To join in, please register for free by clicking here

Sponsors

<< Our Photo Pages >> Skellig Michael - Early Christian Sculptured Stone in Ireland (Republic of) in Co. Kerry

Submitted by jeffrep on Wednesday, 25 January 2012  Page Views: 13144

Early Medieval (Dark Age)Site Name: Skellig Michael Alternative Name: Sceilig Mhichíl
Country: Ireland (Republic of)
NOTE: This site is 531.668 km away from the location you searched for.

County: Co. Kerry Type: Early Christian Sculptured Stone
Nearest Town: Portmagee  Nearest Village: Ballinskelligs
Map Ref: V244610
Latitude: 51.774306N  Longitude: 10.544915W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
4 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
5 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
2 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
4

Internal Links:
External Links:

I have visited· I would like to visit

space_prophet_dogon 43559959 eirrac5 would like to visit

X-Ice visited on 7th Aug 1982 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 1

jeffrep have visited here

Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael submitted by jeffrep : Clochan (beehive hut) and Early Christian Cross, Monastic Complex, Skellig Michael, Ireland. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Early Christian Sculptured Stones (and lots more) in Co. Kerry. For 600 years, Skellig Michael (Sceilig Mhichíl in Irish Gaelic, meaning Michael's rock) was an important center of monastic life for Irish Christian monks. An Irish Celtic monastery, which is situated almost at the summit of the 755 foot high rock, was built beginning in the 7th Century. Legend associates its founding with St. Fionan.

The monastic complex, arrived at after a steep climb of 600+ steps, contains a cluster of six clochans (beehive huts), two oratories, a number of early grave slabs, several early Christian sculptured crosses, and several small terraces on a plateau approximately 700 feet above sea level.

The monastery survived a number of Viking raids in the 9th Century, notably in 823 A.D. It was later significantly expanded with a new chapel built around 1000 A.D. The community at Skellig Michael was never large - probably 12 monks and an abbot. Some time in the 12th Century, the monks abandoned Skellig Michael and moved to the Augustinian Monastery at Ballinskelligs in County Kerry on the mainland.

Skellig Michael became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

Little Skellig, located close by, is equally renowned in matters of ornithology, as it is the home to some 27,000 pairs of gannets – the second largest colony of such seabirds in the world.

Note: Watch the RTÉ Television Documentary: Secrets Of The Stones
You may be viewing yesterday's version of this page. To see the most up to date information please register for a free account.


Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael submitted by jeffrep : View of Little Skellig and the County Kerry, Ireland coastline from Skellig Michael Monastic Complex. (2 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael submitted by jeffrep : Controversial rebuilt section and oratory, Monastic Complex, Skellig Michael, Ireland. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael submitted by jeffrep : Clochans (beehive huts), Monastic Complex, Skellig Michael, Ireland. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael submitted by jeffrep : Ruined Oratory, Monastic Complex, Skellig Michael, Ireland. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael submitted by jeffrep : Back of Clochans (Beehive Huts), Monastic Complex, Skellig Michael, Ireland.

Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael submitted by jeffrep : Clochans (beehive huts), Monastic Complex, Skellig Michael, Ireland. (1 comment)

Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael submitted by jeffrep : Entrance to the Monastic Complex, Skellig Michael, Ireland.

Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael submitted by jeffrep : Monkspath to the Monastic Complex, Skellig Michael, Ireland. Not in use today.

Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael submitted by jeffrep : Early Christian Cross Slab, Monastic Complex, Skellig Michael, Ireland.

Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael submitted by jeffrep : Early Christian Cross, Monastic Complex, Skellig Michael, Ireland.

Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael submitted by jeffrep : Monks Graves, Monastic Complex, Skellig Michael, Ireland.

Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael submitted by jeffrep : Last set of 600+ steps to the Monastic Plateau, Skellig Michael, Ireland. (3 comments)

Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael submitted by jeffrep : Part of the 600+ steps to the Monastic Plateau, Skellig Michael, Ireland.

Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael submitted by jeffrep : Start of 600+ steps to the Monastic Plateau, Skellig Michael, Ireland.

Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael submitted by jeffrep : Skellig Michael, approximately 8 miles off the County Kerry, Ireland coast.

Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael submitted by jeffrep : Steps descending from the Monastic Plateau of Skellig Michael, Ireland. Not for the faint hearted or those with vertigo! (4 comments)

Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael submitted by jeffrep : Monks Graveyard, Monastic Complex, Skellig Michael, Ireland.

Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael submitted by jeffrep : Approaching the landing at Skellig Michael.

Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael submitted by jeffrep : The Skelligs off of County Kerry, Ireland. Little Skellig (Left) and Skellig Michael (right).

Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael submitted by durhamnature : Drawing of the isle, from "Arts in early England" (!) via archive.org

Do not use the above information on other web sites or publications without permission of the contributor.
Click here to see more info for this site

Nearby sites

Click here to view sites on an interactive map of the area

Key: Red: member's photo, Blue: 3rd party photo, Yellow: other image, Green: no photo - please go there and take one, Grey: site destroyed

Download sites to:
KML (Google Earth)
GPX (GPS waypoints)
CSV (Garmin/Navman)
CSV (Excel)

To unlock full downloads you need to sign up as a Contributory Member. Otherwise downloads are limited to 50 sites.


Turn off the page maps and other distractions

Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 15.3km E 80° Bolus Standing Stones (V396630)
 16.7km E 79° Kildreelig* Stone Row / Alignment
 16.8km ENE 71° Coom Wedge Tomb* Wedge Tomb
 17.7km ENE 60° St Buonia's Cross (Killabuonia) Early Christian Sculptured Stone (V4002269422)
 18.2km NNE 34° St Brendan's Well* Holy Well or Sacred Spring
 18.4km ENE 62° Leabaleaha Stone Circle (V410690)
 19.5km NE 40° Cool East ogham stone* Standing Stone (Menhir)
 19.8km NE 40° Cool East wedge tomb* Wedge Tomb
 21.0km NE 38° Tinnies Upper Stone Circle (V380770)
 23.3km NE 41° Glanleam standing stone* Standing Stone (Menhir)
 23.7km ENE 59° Fermoyle Stone Row / Alignment (V453724)
 25.2km ENE 74° Spuncane Stone Circle (V490670)
 26.1km E 87° Loher Stone Fort* Hillfort
 26.3km E 90° Coomatloukane* Wedge Tomb (V5074660179)
 26.3km NE 43° Ballycarbery west wedge tomb* Wedge Tomb
 26.9km NE 41° Doulus Head Hut Sites* Ancient Village or Settlement
 27.0km E 80° Eightercua* Stone Row / Alignment (V51206465)
 28.2km NE 44° Cahergal* Stone Fort or Dun (V4484180557)
 28.4km NE 43° Leacanabuaile* Stone Fort or Dun (V4463781059)
 28.5km NE 44° Kimego Standing Stones (V450808)
 28.6km NE 49° Cahersiveen standing stones* Standing Stones (V4674478981)
 29.1km E 92° The Derrynane Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (V5356258932)
 29.8km E 91° Caherdaniel Fort (2)* Stone Fort or Dun (V5425059627)
 29.9km E 91° Caherdaniel Fort (1)* Stone Fort or Dun (V5434559619)
 30.5km ENE 74° Dromkeare Stone Row / Alignment
View more nearby sites and additional images

<< Valley of the Kings

Nakovana Cave >>

Please add your thoughts on this site

Clickable Map of Ireland

Ritual and Domestic Life in Prehistoric Europe, Bradley

Ritual and Domestic Life in Prehistoric Europe, Bradley

Sponsors

Auto-Translation (Google)

Translate from English into:

"Skellig Michael" | Login/Create an Account | 3 News and Comments
  
Go back to top of page    Comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content.
Skellig Michael island and monastic complex feature in Star Wars: The Force Awakens by Harald_Platta on Saturday, 16 January 2016
(User Info | Send a Message)
The island and the monastic complex have been used as a location in the final scene of the movie Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015). In the movie, it served as refuge of Luke Skywalker on the planet Ahch-To. Skellig Michael is supposed to be featured as location in the sequal film Star Wars Episode VIII (2017) as well.

Skellig Michael served also as location in the conclusion of the Werner Herzog movie Heart of Glass (1976).
[ Reply to This ]
    Disney to enforce Star Wars copyright of Skellig Michael for next ten years by Andy B on Wednesday, 06 April 2016
    (User Info | Send a Message)
    A rather fun April fool (at least I hope it is!] claiming copyright of Skellig Michael

    Apparently Disney marketing executives have been caught unawares at the popularity and interest shown by fans with the scenes shot on Skellig Michael. It is thought that a range of models, figurines, and a specific ‘Star Wars’ Island ‘Ahch-To’ Planetary Play Set (TM), including a (Limited Edition) R2-B-Hive Hut, are being rushed into production for the 2016 Christmas toy market.

    Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source familiar with the Irish Department of Heritage spoke of a widespread anger and frustration among middle and lower grade staff involved. “Its something that should have been flagged up by the legal eagles well before any agreement was signed. After all, look what happened with the Book of Kells. Sure that’s probably where they got the idea in the first place.”

    Others were more practical, noting that the lack of foresight on behalf of the Minister will now result in the loss of significant amounts of revenue. “They didn’t pay much for the use of Skellig, and now they’re going to rake in millions in profits from toys and games. The Irish taxpayer could have had a 50% share in all relevant ‘Ahch-To’ (TM) merchandising if certain people were on the ball.”

    More at
    https://voxhiberionacum.wordpress.com/2016/04/01/disney-star-wars-copyright/
    [ Reply to This ]

RTÉ Television Documentary from 2009: Secrets Of The Stones by Andy B on Wednesday, 25 January 2012
(User Info | Send a Message)
The Word Hoarder writes: My fellow megalithomaniacs should check out this documentary from RTÉ Television [first broadcast in 2009 but available to watch on demand from the link below]. The first part looks at the evolution of megalithic tombs from “simple” dolmens (if manhandling a 12 ton rock could ever be called simple) through huge cairns, to passage tombs with elaborate carvings and solar alignments.

The second deals with the development of Christian churches and monasteries, from the beehive huts of Skellig Michael through to the high crosses of Durrow and Monasterboice.

Unusually for the rather staid world of RTÉ in particular and TV documentaries in general, the program-makers focused on the controversial theories, the exciting new research, and the minority reports. There are also some nice computer-generated artists’ impressions of what places like the Hill of Tara and Caherlehilla (site of what may be the oldest church in Ireland) might have looked like in their heyday, as well as bold denunciations of St. Patrick as base propaganda, and tantalizing hints that several of the high crosses may have been carved by a single artist, a Michelangelo of the midlands.

Fascinating stuff!

Source
http://wordhoarder.wordpress.com/2012/01/13/rte-television-documentary-secrets-of-the-stones/ with thanks to Jackdaw1
[ Reply to This ]

Your Name: Anonymous [ Register Now ]
Subject:


Add your comment or contribution to this page. Spam or offensive posts are deleted immediately, don't even bother

<<< What is five plus one as a number? (Please type the answer to this question in the little box on the left)
You can also embed videos and other things. For Youtube please copy and paste the 'embed code'.
For Google Street View please include Street View in the text.
Create a web link like this: <a href="https://www.megalithic.co.uk">This is a link</a>  

Allowed HTML is:
<p> <b> <i> <a> <img> <em> <br> <strong> <blockquote> <tt> <li> <ol> <ul> <object> <param> <embed> <iframe>

We would like to know more about this location. Please feel free to add a brief description and any relevant information in your own language.
Wir möchten mehr über diese Stätte erfahren. Bitte zögern Sie nicht, eine kurze Beschreibung und relevante Informationen in Deutsch hinzuzufügen.
Nous aimerions en savoir encore un peu sur les lieux. S'il vous plaît n'hesitez pas à ajouter une courte description et tous les renseignements pertinents dans votre propre langue.
Quisieramos informarnos un poco más de las lugares. No dude en añadir una breve descripción y otros datos relevantes en su propio idioma.