Destinations of Interest in Ireland | Skellig Michael Cruises

Destinations of Interest in Ireland | Skellig Michael Cruises

Destinations of Interest in Ireland | Skellig Michael Cruises

I am delighted to welcome you to our website,where we have consistently put together informative posts for you to get updated on the uniqueness of the The Skellig Islands, tourism attractions in the fascinating South Kerry and Ireland the destination in general. Some weeks ago I wrote about the destinations of interest in Ireland where I put on two editions. Let us  quickly  revisit these posts;

Destinations of interest in Ireland Part I

In part one which you can as well read it here Destinations of interest in Ireland Part I   at in its lengthy I highlighted you the following destinations of interests;

Destinations of Interest in Ireland | Skellig Michael Cruises

Destinations of interest in Ireland Part II

After highlighting the above four fantastic destinations, in this part two of destinations of interest in Ireland I further pointed up the following fascinating attractions;

  •  Killarney National Park
  •  Kerry Cliffs
  •  Kerry County Museum
  •  Kilmalkedar Church

Having seen about above destinations guys, in today’s post I won’t add  a new destination but rather I am going to share with yousome history of  St. Finnian acknowledged by many as the father of Irish Church and the first monk in the Skellig Michael Islands which are consider by many to be the top attraction in Ireland. Also guys if you missed history on the two majestic islands feel free to enjoy reading about them here at The Skellig Islands a history.

Introduction to Monks

Scholars define a monk as ‘’a member of religious community of men typically living under vows of poverty, chastity and obedience’’ The introduction of Christian era in Ireland cannot be discussed without the name of Saint Finnian. Born at Myshall, County Carlow towards the end of the 5th Century, Saint Finnian went on to become the father of Irish Monasticism.

Saint Finnian is known as the first ever monk to establish the settlement in Skellig Michael Island which is among top destinations of interest in Ireland.

 

Monastic journey by St Finnian

After saint Finnian was baptized by Saint Abban, he was placed under the care of bishop Fortchern of Trim. During this time (at the end of 5th century) Christianity was slowly being introduced in Ireland something made Finnian very curious and hungry to learning religious things.

This strong desire forced Finnian to cross the sea to Britain before going and settling in France for some time where he developed his strong experience in religious life.

St Finnian returns to Ireland

Being under St. Fortchern developed his monastic discipline and he later fled to Wales to perfect himself in holiness and monastic knowledge under the great Saints of Wales. Finnian was now a complete product and he returned to his home land after spending reportedly 30 years in Wales.

Saint Finnian  traveled from place to place teaching the words of God and he also founded churches during his preaching. It is understood that his first ever monastery was at Aghowle, County Wicklow. Saint Finnian went on to found Clonard Abbey in modern day County Meath. Further reports suggest that the twelve apostles of Ireland studied under Finnian.

St. Finnian establishes Skellig Michael Monastery.

Seeking for further closeness with God St. Finnian fled to Skellig Michael in 6th century where he established small stone huts and oratories. Presence of these huts and oratories to the moment I am writing you have made Skellig Michael among the top destinations of interests in Ireland.

Monks life in the top destination of interest in Ireland

As St. Finnian established the huts he was soon joined by few of his pupils and they later developed more huts noted six and two oratories in Skellig Michael which is the larger among two Skellig islands. Their lives depended on birds’ meats and eggs, fishes as well as the vegetables the monks grew on the island. With loads of tales on the monks’ lives on islands, I encourage you to join us visit Skellig Michael islands the top destinations of interest in Ireland.

Book Now

With more to tell on the destinations of interest in Ireland, in the next post I will write  for you in detail on the amazing life of monks on the Islands. I am also delighted to remind you that we here at Skellig Michael Cruises we do two trips every day from April to October to this top destination of interest in Ireland. Contact us now and we will plan you a trip of your life.

I hope you liked our post

 Destinations of Interest in Ireland 

Destinations of Interest in Ireland | Skellig Michael Cruises

/by

Skellig Michael Islands History – Skellig Islands

Skellig Michael history

Skellig Michael Islands  history

Hello friends, thank you for visiting our site. Today I have the pleasure to share with you about Skellig Michael Islands, which are world renowned for their uniqueness and they are without doubt a top sightseeing destination in Ireland.

 Also guys I encourage you to browse around this website as we have lots of tips and information that will give you a reason to visit Ireland particularly County Kerry which  hosts uncountable tourism attractions.

Skellig Michael Islands

Standing impressively on the Atlantic Ocean, Skellig Michael Islands are located 11.6 kilometres west of Iveragh Peninsula in the tourist county of Kerry. The history of  these two islands in the name of Skellig Michael or Great Skellig and Small Skellig can be told basing on the following three remarkable eras in the Islands;

  • Pre-monastic,
  • Monastic,
  • Post Monastic.

First and foremost, the name Skellig derives its origin from “Sceillic” which is used by Irish to mean a steep rock. This gives you an idea of the islands. Skellig Michael which is the larger of these two islands stands majestically to the elevation of about 715 ft. Ok guys; let me take you through these three eras of Skellig Michael Islands so that you can enjoy the most of islands’ history.

 

Skellig Michael Islands Prior to Monks

It is believed that the islands were uninhabited before 8th Century. Old tales narrates that Ir who was the son of Mil Espaine was buried on the Great Skellig. Mil Espaine is the mythical ancestor of the final inhabitants of Ireland. This mythical ancestor with his wife Scota, his uncle Ith and their other relatives holds one of the amazing ancient history narrations you don’t have to miss guys. Just plan your Skellig Michael Islands tour with us to realize all those.

Skellig Michael Islands Monastery

The First Monk

It is claimed that the first monk on the Skellig Michael Islands was Saint Finnian of Clonard. Considered by by many as a father of Irish monasticism, Saint Finnian who it is also said almost all of the birds of Ireland gathered soon after his birth at the end of 5th Century as a sign of the holy life he would lead used much of his time preaching in Wales until he later returned to his homeland and found churches most noticeably at Great Skellig which is the larger among Skellig Michael Islands.

The life of Monks on Skellig Michael Islands

That is said to have opened the door to more monks to move to the Skellig Michael and it is said that until the late years of 8th century, the Islands hosted a good number of monks who lived by eating vegetables, grains, fish and meat & eggs of birds in the islands which are renowned as the hosts for Ireland’s largest Northern gannet colony with nearly 30,000 pairs. Having said so, it is then clear now that these monks preferred maintaining vegetable gardens to ensure their diet. 

Monks’ huts on Skellig Michael Islands

At the moment in the Skellig Michael Islands are six beehive shaped huts, two oratories and later medieval church that have been careful maintained to give us a true taste of the life of the monks who were constantly evaded by Vikings during 8th and 9th century. Though Vikings humiliated the monks and even drowned in the Atlantic Sea, some ancient narrations claims that monks ended up baptizing atleast a single Viking

Monks come to an end on Skellig Michael Islands

It is documented that the monastery remained occupied until the late 12th century and after the climate in Islands became even colder and more prone to storms along with other changes to the structure of Irish Church, the community abandoned the islands for any living purposes only to be used later for tourism.

Skellig Michael Islands after Monastery era

Skellig Michael Islands is said to be known to many from the beginning of 15th century. During this period monks were no longer available. In 1996 the Skellig Michael was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list and the islands have been acknowledged as the islands with exceptional universal values and unique example of an early religious settlement. Skellig Michael Islands are beautiful and unique islands that many have compared them to nowhere.

Plan your tour now

With Skellig Michael Cruises, I must remind you guys that South Kerry is the home to the most spectacular scenery in Ireland. With its spectacular mountains, beautiful lakes and Atlantic Ocean coastline, South Kerry stands among the most scenic areas on the planet do not wait any longer before planning your tour to these magnificent Islands.

Contact us now and we will get back to you promptly and plan you a memorable Skellig islands boat trip to Skellig Michael Islands.

/by