The island of Skellig Michael lies 11.6km off Bolus Head, the westernmost tip of the Iveragh Peninsula in Co. Kerry, Ireland. It is currently solely inhabited by Luke Skywalker, although rumour has it he now has some company, possibly his daughter (discuss!!).
Apart from being located in an undeniably beautiful part of the world, it also has a rich geological story.
The pinnacles of the Skellig Islands, which can be clearly seen in this image, rise to 218m above the Atlantic Ocean. The island itself is shaped from Old Red Sandstone which also forms the backbone of the mountainous regions of south Kerry and west Cork, including the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks and the Caha Mountains. These rocks came into existence as sediments deposited by flooding rivers during the Devonian period, some 400 million years ago.
The current day topography, consisting of elongated valleys separated by ridges, is the result of a period of folding and mountain formation some 100 million years after the original sediments were laid down. Subsequent to sea level rise, the Skelligs were then isolated from the mainland. Over time, sedimentary rock was compressed into hard, finely grained layers of sandstone and slate; creating fractures, joints and faults. Erosion along major fault lines in the centre of Skellig Michael caused the rock to gradually break away, leaving behind a U-shaped depression 130m above sea level, which is today named Christ’s Saddle. Two peaks remain, one each side of the valley: one to the north-east, 185m high, is the location of the Monastery; the one to the southwest, 218m high, is the location of the Hermitage.
Skellig Michael is also internationally renowned as one of the most important sites for breeding seabirds in Ireland. The steep rocky slopes and cliffs provide nesting places for species such as Fulmar, Kittiwake and Guillemot, while Storm-Petrel, Manx Shearwater and Puffin nest in burrows and other holes throughout the island. Skellig Michael was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996 and as a result of the filming of Star Wars has become a major tourist attraction. I do ask, however, that anyone thinking of visiting there does their best to respect Skellig Michael and try to inhibit any human induced damage to what is a true gem of Ireland.
Go mbeidh an fórsa leat- May the force be with you!!
Photograph: Getty Images/De Agostini http://ind.pn/28LLeI3
