Did you know that several scenes in Star Wars were filmed in Ireland? When planning our trip to Ireland, we decided early on that we wanted to visit Skellig Michael. Peter was very enthusiastic about visiting the steep rocky island with the old monastery. It turned out that visiting Skellig Michael wasn't easy... but today we can still tell you about this dramatic island!
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Skellig Michael
The steep, 230-metre-high island of Skellig Michael, also known as Great Skellig, together with its smaller sister island Little Skellig, is located 12 kilometres off the west coast of Ireland.
One of the nearest harbours is Portmagee, located almost at the tip of the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry. It can be reached by taking the classic car journey. Ring of Kerryand then continues a little further, at the far end of the peninsula. The island is a popular destination for tourists for several reasons. However, managing to get out and visit the island is not easy ...
Medieval monasteries
A medieval monastery, named after the island and built in 588 AD, sits on the thorny cliff. It is believed that up to 12 monks once lived here, and the well-preserved small stone houses that line the steep cliff walls can still be seen today. Can you believe they lived out here, in simple stone houses on a barren cliff in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean...?
The small monastic village is home to six beehive huts. The site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996 and is one of Europe's best known, but most inaccessible, monastic villages.
In the 9th century, Skellig Michael survived a Viking attack and in the early 11th century the monastic village was extended with a new chapel. About a hundred years later, the monastery was abandoned and it was only in the 16th century that people started coming here again, but as pilgrims.
Rich bird life
The two steep rocky islands, Great Skellig and Little Skellig, are nature reserves known for their rich bird life. Little Skellig is home to Ireland's largest colony of gannets, with around 20,000 pairs of birds. One can guess that birds, and bird eggs, were part of the monks' diet from time to time ...
Star Wars in Ireland
Perhaps you have seen Star Wars? Did you know that some Star Wars sequences were filmed in Ireland, including on Skellig Michael? This mountainous island appears in no less than two of the famous films. In 'Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens', the final scene shows how Rey, a scrap collector, lands on a rocky island in the middle of the ocean and is met by a man who turns out to be Luke Skywalker.
In 'Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi', you get to go back to the planet Ahch-To, which is mostly made up of oceans and rocky islands. So it was time to see Skellig Michael on screen again.
Visiting Skellig Michael
If you want to visit Skellig Michael, you need to book tickets well in advance. We've heard that sometimes you need to book months in advance, but for us it was enough to book a week before departure.
The night before it was time, we stopped at a camping on the island of Valentia, not far from Portmagee. When we woke up to the wind shaking the motorhome, we suspected that there would be no boat trip ... But of course we set off anyway, and ten minutes later we arrived at Moorings Hotel, where we would pick up our tickets.
No trip to Skellig Michael
No, just as we suspected, there was no trip to Skellig Michael. The wind was blowing just too much. "Probably there will be no tours for the rest of the week," the girl at the ticket office announced. Not much to do, of course!
We asked if it is usually easier in the middle of summer, but the girl shook her head. No, the weather is often bad on the coast, she said. So, if you want to get out to Skellig Michael, you have to be ... lucky! This island is still on our, and not least Peter's, bucket list.
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Lena - good for the soul says:
Nope, had no idea that Star Wars scenes were filmed there. I haven't even seen such a film. I have such a hard time with that kind of stuff. But often films are shot in fantastic environments. And of course I can enjoy THAT! My gosh. Imagine living like that!!!
Too bad the weather stopped you!
Hug Lena
23 May 2018 - 6:25
Helena says:
Yes, I know that some people do not like fantasy and science fiction and such. I myself love it, haha 🙂 But as you say, regardless, it is often the case that you have chosen to film in fantastic environments, like here!
23 May 2018 - 8:05
Fantasy Dining says:
How cool! Would love to take a little Star Wars trip 😉.
23 May 2018 - 7:39
Helena says:
But isn't it? Would be perfect 🙂
23 May 2018 - 8:06
4000mil says:
But oh, what a place! I also want to go there from now on! 🙂
23 May 2018 - 8:31
Helena says:
🙂
23 May 2018 - 17:49
Ama de casa says:
Hmm... I belong to the small group of people who have never seen a Star Wars film... However, I have seen both soles and puffins, and they are so beautiful, so that alone would make the visit interesting 😉 Then again, it was a very beautiful and dramatic island as well 🙂 ...
23 May 2018 - 9:20
Helena says:
You are not alone in not having seen Star Wars. I have noticed that not everyone likes science fiction. But I do 🙂 And the island is worth visiting regardless (I would think ;))!
23 May 2018 - 17:51
Johnny Friskilä says:
Yes I have read about that place before and now I was reminded by you. Seems just like a place where I would enjoy myself. We'll see, maybe it will be Ireland again before long.
23 May 2018 - 10:01
Helena says:
Great if you are going to Ireland! Incredibly nice country! 🙂
23 May 2018 - 17:51
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:
What a cool island. Soles and puffins don't make it any worse.
Then again, we're one of those people who haven't seen a single Star Wars film, but it's okay to appreciate beautiful nature anyway!
23 May 2018 - 10:49
Helena says:
The island is dramatic whether you like the film or not! (And that's probably why it was chosen as a film scene ;))
23 May 2018 - 17:52
Anonymous says:
Many non Star Wars loyalists reading/commenting on today's post 🙂 .
The scenery in and around Ireland must be perfect for fantasy and historical films.
23 May 2018 - 13:06
Helena says:
Yes haha, I can see that 😉 But the nature in Ireland is so dramatic, and it's perfect for film!
23 May 2018 - 17:53
åsa in åsele says:
Hm, it's me who was anonymous for some reason...
23 May 2018 - 21:38
Helena says:
Nice to see you as non-anonymous now Åsa 🙂 .
23 May 2018 - 22:02
Ditte says:
You can't be successful all the time. But a trip here would have been a great experience. I've only seen one Star Wars film but would love to visit the island.
23 May 2018 - 13:12
Helena says:
It's not always possible to have the weather on your side 😉.
23 May 2018 - 17:54
Annar Aas says:
I'm glad you're trying to reach odd places. Even if the weather stopped you, I have now been there through your fine storytelling. Thank you for that! About telling Peter to swear a little less on his drone instructions. I have grandchildren who are learning to fly thanks to his educational instructional films. He is good but think about the darts! (applies to the yutuube films)
23 May 2018 - 18:05
Helena says:
Oh dear, oh dear, good for you for telling Annar! I agree, not good. Peter promises improvement!
23 May 2018 - 22:03
Ann-Louise says:
Oh what a shame you couldn't go out to the island. Skellig Michael has been at the top of my bucket list since I saw "The Force Awakens" so I've read up on the boat trips and realised it's not easy to get there.
23 May 2018 - 20:18
Helena says:
How nice that you have Skellig Michael on your bucket list! No, it's not that easy to get there ...
23 May 2018 - 22:04
Deciree says:
So fantastically cool to see this live 🙂 I understand that you enjoyed it.
23 May 2018 - 20:48
Helena says:
It would have been even more fun if we actually got out to the island 😉.
23 May 2018 - 22:05
TravelAnna says:
But oh, what a cool place. Stora och lilla reminds me of Stora och Lilla Karlsö, which also has beautiful nature and rich bird life. But I understand that this is something very special because it was used as a film landscape.
How unfortunate that you couldn't be there this time. However, it still felt like I was following along, via the colourful description and the enticing pictures. As I said, Ireland is on my list! 🙂
23 May 2018 - 21:30
Helena says:
It almost felt a bit like going to the island when you read and wrote about it. At the same time, you became even more eager to get there for real 😉.
23 May 2018 - 22:09
Role o Carina says:
What great views there are on that island!
Take care.....
23 May 2018 - 22:21
Helena says:
Indeed! And the same to you! 🙂
24 May 2018 - 6:10
BP says:
What a pity that you could not visit the island in person. All the better that you could "borrow" some pictures and show this island. Imagine living in such a place. Visiting the island for a day is one thing, but living in such conditions for a lifetime. Just the thought makes me rush and realise what a world of luxury we live in today.
Absolutely wonderful and dramatic images!
23 May 2018 - 22:48
Helena says:
Yes, that the monks chose to settle there ... it's not easy to understand! I'd love to visit, but one day is just about enough 😉 The photos are courtesy of the Irish Tourist Board, Failte Ireland, with permission.
24 May 2018 - 6:12
Susjos says:
The rest of my family loves Star Wars, but I haven't seen any films!
What a cool island anyway!
Too bad you couldn't make it.
Hugs!
24 May 2018 - 0:25
Helena says:
The island is fascinating, whether you like Star Wars or not. But maybe a bit more so if you like Star Wars 😉.
24 May 2018 - 6:13
Annar Aas says:
The bottom line is that he is a great teacher, so now children will learn to fly drones with the help of his great instructions on YouTube. He is a good teacher and thus a good role model!
24 May 2018 - 20:35
Marianne - Glimpses of the world says:
People really have settled in the strangest places over the years! Too bad you didn't get out to the island, it seems like a very interesting place to visit. Would love to have been there myself.
24 May 2018 - 22:01
Lena in Wales says:
I haven't been to Skellig Michael either, but I have heard about it.
27 May 2018 - 12:15