The Skelligs: Islands on the Edge of the World

Twelve kilometres off the Kerry coast, the Skelligs rise from the Atlantic like something from another age. This book is a dedicated study of both islands — Skellig Michael and Little Skellig — built up over many visits and many different moods of weather and light.

Inside you'll find the full range of what these islands offer. The ancient monastic settlement on Skellig Michael, climbing in stone steps and beehive cells toward the summit. The gannet colony on Little Skellig, one of the largest in the world, where the noise and movement is almost overwhelming. Calm summer landings when the swell drops enough to get ashore, and Atlantic storms when the islands disappear behind walls of white water.

The geology alone would justify a book. These are old, hard rocks, and the light does extraordinary things with them.

128 pages, hardcover.

You can also explore the islands through my online guide to Skellig Michael, with articles on the island's history, how to visit, photographing the Skelligs, and the Star Wars connection.