The Skellig Story: Ancient Monastic Outpost - Softcover

Lavelle, Des

Softcover

ISBN 10: 086278882X ISBN 13: 9780862788827

Publisher: O'Brien Press Ltd, 2004

Synopsis

NEW EDITION

‘Magic that takes you out, far out, of this time and this world.'
George Bernard Shaw, after a visit to Skellig

This is the story of two of the world's most stunning and unspoilt islands,Skellig Michael and Small Skellig, which lie off the coast of Kerry.Lavelle explores the extraordinary, isolated Early Christian monastic settlement with its stone ‘beehive' huts. He describes the abundant bird life, including the huge colony of gannets, and tells of the history, legend, geology, plant life, the lighthouse, the seals and the underwater world.

A comprehensive and accessible book on a unique and fascinating place.

About this title

About the Author

Des Lavelle of Valentia, County Kerry, is a man of marine passions, and the beautiful Skellig Islands are listed ahead of the rest. A seaman, photographer, diving instructor and author, he – with his venerable boat, the Béal Bocht – has guided many thousands of visitors to the Skelligs. Allied to this activity, his summer days are spent personally appreciating the wonders of wildlife, archaeology and history that occupy every nook and cranny on Skellig – above and beneath the sea – and he has spent many winters taking these topics on a lecture circuit that stretches from mainland Europe to the west coast of the United States. His photographs and texts also form the core of the Skellig Experience Visitor Centre on Valentia.

Though now retired from commercial boating, the call of the Skellig still draws him, on special summer days, to his Lorelei in the Atlantic Ocean.

 

Edition details

• Publisher: O'Brien Press Ltd
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 086278882X
• ISBN 13: 9780862788827
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 5
• Number of pages: 112