Portmagee and The Skellig Islands
Further west of Ireland, out to sea, is an extraordinary, far-flung place of pilgrimage: Skellig Michael. 1300 years ago, early Christian monks built a remarkable hermitage at the top of this jagged ocean crag – then at the furthest limits of the known world. This mysterious and awe-inspiring place, described by George Bernard Shaw as “part of our dream world”, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It can be reached by the adventurous on a small boat, only when the weather allows, from the small picturesque fishing village of Portmagee. Portmagee was the winner of Ireland’s first ever Tourism Town in 2012, and once you arrive it’s easy to see why. You can really get to know people here. There are small family-run businesses, local food producers, artists and craftspeople, pubs with peat fires and traditional music sessions. Across the bridge there is the Skelligs Experience Visitor Centre, where you can follow an audio-visual tour recreating the magic of the Skellig region and enjoy its history.
