Sceilg Mhichíl

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Situated ten miles off the coast of Corca Dhuibhne, on the extreme south-west of Ireland, lies the UNESCO world heritage site, Sceilg Mhichíl (‘Michael’s Rock’). This historic monastery and pilgrimage site is dedicated to the Archangel Michael, and consists of six clocháin (beehive huts) and two stone roofed oratories: A clochán is a little beehive hut where a monk would have slept (obviously not the most luxurious of accomodation):


http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/4221/skelhuts.jpg

It is situated at a platform 600 feet above sea level and the monastery was built in 588AD.

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/6906/skelligmichael2.jpg

One of the first reference to the island refers a war involving the Tuatha Dé Danann (‘Nation of the Godess Danann’) who are according to ancient legend the fifth invaders of Ireland, after the Fir Bholg (‘Belly Men’). The Tuatha Dé Danann fought against (and lost) soldier Míl Espáine (Miles Hispaniae in Latin), who according to ancient legends and chronices was the son of Goidel, who was expelled from Egypt after the Expulsion of the Israelites, and went on to settle in Spain. Goidel’s son Míl Espáine served as a soldier in Egypt before remembering a prophecy that his descendants would rule Ireland. His descendants Eber Finn and Eremon with their wives are supposed to have invaded Ireland ca 1700 BC. It is these that the Irish are chronicled to descend from. Queen Scota, a daughter of an Egyptian Pharoah, and the wife of Míl, is buried just across from the island near Tralee, where a stone marks her grave. One of these Milesians, a man called Irr, was buried here in Sceilg Mhichíl in 1400BC.

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/989/skelligc.jpg
 
In the fifth century AD, the King of Munster, being chased by the King of Cashel fled here for safety. According to local accounts the monastery was founded by St Fionan. The monastery was a place of prayer, penance, learning and pilgrimage. Pilgrims from all over Europe would come here. Obviously for the monks the silence and beauty of the area would have been a great attraction. But the harsh inclement surroundings would have involved a great degree of self denial, and perhaps hard to appreciate for many modern observers; indeed it could be considered the antithesis of the American Dream. Here is a layout of the monastery:

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/2914/sclgplan.jpg

Here is an aerial view:

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/6244/skelligair.jpg

The monastery was inhabited until the 14th century AD, though it was repeatedly plundered by Vikings in the 9th century. According to local accounts, in 993 AD, the Viking Olav Trygvasson, who became the king of Norway and introduced Christianity there, was baptized by a hermit on Sceilg.

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/8828/skellig6.jpg
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/8632/skellig1.jpg
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/6071/skelview.jpg
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/2341/dscf2495.jpg
 
Throughout the middle ages, pilgrims from around Europe would come to do the Stations of the Cross here, to do penance and to kiss the slab-stone (since disappeared). It come under the protection of the Earl of Desmond during the medieval era, but Queen Elizabeth expropriated the land and it came under private Protestant ownership. Throughout the times of persecution after the Reformation, Catholics throughout Ireland would come here (illegally) to do penance and prayer. It is now (I believe) in state ownership.

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/9559/sk1.jpg
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/4221/skelhuts.jpg

This is one of the oratories where the monks prayed:
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/1103/smain.jpg

The graveyard where the monks were buried:
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/7392/6352154284qlblvl.jpg

Notice the engraved cross? This is called a leacht. It marks the death of someone important:
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/3849/ireland1.jpg

This is the pathway:
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/7123/ringkerrytrail.jpg

Sceilg Bheag (‘small rock’) in the background:
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/4707/ireland202007032.jpg
 
Wow! I can’t pronounce the name, but I would love to visit there.
Forget visiting, I want to live there, in one of the beehives.
 
Incredibly beautiful area and would have been a very harse life. We visited the village on the coast from the islands about a year and a half ago. If we go back I defintely want to go to the island itself. I believe the Book of Kells was transcripted here. We were able to see them at Trinity College in Dublin when we visited there.
 
larousser said:
Hi, it’s pronounced 'Skell-eg Vee-hill"
Click to expand...
Thanks! I will need to be able to pronounce it if I am going to live in one of the beehives.

Does anyone know of any monasteries or convents of this model that are still in use? I don’t mean necessarily beehives on a mountainous island(though that would be a plus), but the little private huts or houses and most of the community space being outside.
 
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