Photo: President Gordon Ward greets Robert Park, with Club Members Jim Gordon (L) and John Graham (R)

Talk by Robert Park on a trip to 'The Skelligs'

Club President Gordon Ward welcomed members to the meeting and then went on to introduce and welcome back, our speaker for the morning Mr. Robert Park. Robert then went on to give a highly entertaining and interesting talk and slide show about a visit he made to 'The Skellig Islands' of the Kerry coast.

Robert started his talk by saying that the trip he had made to the Skelligs was just about two years ago, when he was on a visit to the West of Ireland with a friend, who was interested in birds. The two islands that are the Skelligs are home to one of the largest Gannet and Puffin colonies in Western Europe, which seemed a good reason to go there. However, that wasn't Robert's main reason. He knew that the islands, now a 'World Heritage' site, housed an sixth century monastic settlement. The talk and excellent slide show charted the trials and tribulations of the journey to the islands and what they found there.

The trip being in late September, proved to have less than good weather (no surprise there!). The Sea conditions were such that Robert had to wait three days before it was safe (calm enough) to allow the small motor boat to set out for the islands. There being nothing in the way of 'normal' ferry facilities - a gang plank on to the boat, a harbour to sail into, a pier to climb off onto - it was a case of jumping at the right time and no second tries.

(Please 'Click' the aerial photo below to see a series of other photos that illustrate just what the Skelligs are like, and serve to show what Robert talked us through as he narrated his adventure on what has been described as "Two steep sided pieces of barren rock, raising some 6 - 700 feet out of the sea").

The Irish 'Office of Public Works' looks after the islands and the lighthouse sited there. They have a small helicopter pad and limited accommodation for the staff and guides that the stay there on two shifts. There are no 'home comforts' and nothing in the way of shelter for visitors. How any monk came to think this was a good place to build a monastery there is almost unbelievable, but up to 12 monks lived there for several hundred years.

A vote of thanks was proposed by John Graham for a very interesting, entertaining and fascinating talk, that was beautifully illustrated with Robert's photos. Although the talk was so good and must have made many members want to see these bleak and desolate islands, the lack of 'facilities' and six hour plus return time, may prove a 'wee' problem for members of our age! The thanks were passed on by the President, and the members showed their appreciation.

Mike Turner - Secretary

To find out more about the Skelligs, click on these links:
http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/skelligmichael/
http://www.worldheritageireland.ie/skellig-michael/historical-background/
http://www.worldheritageireland.ie/skellig-michael/
http://wikitravel.org/en/Skellig_Michael
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skellig_Michael