Island Life
Monastic Life
There are still many mysteries surrounding the lives of the monks who once lived on the island. Only a few artifacts have been found to provide useful information on the Christian occupation of the Skellig monastic community. What little we do know is that during the time of the Penal Laws, Skellig Michael and Little Skellig became a haven for many Catholics whose beliefs and rights were being suppressed. Skellig Michael (Sceilg Mhichil) was home to one of the earliest monastic settlements in Ireland. These monks of St. Fionan’s monastery led simple lives and lived in stone, beehive shaped huts. They would descend the 670 steps early each morning and fish for their breakfast. During the day they prayed in the church, tending to their gardens and studied early Christian manuscripts. Archaeological evidence suggests that the monastery supported around 12 monks whose ranks it is supposed where replenished through the centuries by new brothers from the mainland monastery at Ballinskelligs.
The Hermitage
The Hermitage, is an example of micro-isolation, an extreme retreat away from the already secluded monastery. The only other place that monks could go on an already isolated island. It is “an even higher and less accessible spot”? located on the highest of the two peaks of Skellig Michael. Archaeologists have discovered a terrace and some beehive huts suitable for one or two hermits living in complete isolation and contemplation.
Beehive Huts
The monastery huts are also known as beehive huts. They were constructed to have a round shape on the outside and rectangular on the inside, they have near perfect waterproofing from the lashing rains on the island, and amazingly some of the huts completely survived the centuries of disrepair, and still stand today.
The Pilgrimages
Skellig Micheal was a place of pilgramage and penance for many years. In the 16th century it was a prime place of public penance.Two centuries later pilgrims were coming from all over Europe and Ireland at Easter-time to say the stations of the cross before finally kissing a stone carving over-hanging the sea at the ‘Needles Eye’
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