The Skellig Michael Problem

Most Irish people are familiar with Skellig Michael. The towering rocky island lies off the coast of Kerry, and up until the 13th century was home to a small group of monks who lived in beehive huts. You'd be hard pushed to find a more isolated and unforgiving environment to live in. In a few short years, the story of these monks was opened up to a far wider audience after it served as Luke Skywalker's hermitage in the latest installments of Star Wars. Tourism in Kerry got a boost, as more people flocked to the county. However, Skellig Michael is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visitors are strictly limited by number and to certain times of the year. This means only a few people can actually get to Skellig Michael, and even then weather conditions might force the trip to be cancelled. The site is also difficult to walk around, as well as may posing problems for anyone with a fear of heights. While tourism has always been Kerry's strong suit, the problem it now faces is a new wave of tourists who might primarily want to see one, isolated location. A small centre dedicated to the Skelligs, the Skellig Experience Visitor Centre, already exists, but it may not be enough to sate many. TheJournal.ie spoke to some of those close to the tourism industry in Kerry for a glimpse of how they're attempting to spread the tourism around the county, so hoards of disappointed tourists don't start piling up at the boats to the Skelligs. TheJournal.ie is an Irish news website that invites its users to shape the news agenda. Read, share and shape the day’s stories as they happen, from Ireland, the world and the web. Submit your clips to [email protected] Stay up to date with all of the latest videos by subscribing to our channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/thejourna... Download our free iOS app: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/app/thejo... Download our free Android app https://play.google.com/store/apps/de... Twitter: twitter.com/thejournal_ie Facebook: facebook.com/TheJournal.ie Instagram: instagram.com/thejournal_ie Snapchat: thejournal.ie