Call for Skellig plan to set rules on diving height

Kerry County Council has told Minister for the Environment John Gormley that a management plan for Skellig Michael, a Unesco …

Kerry County Council has told Minister for the Environment John Gormley that a management plan for Skellig Michael, a Unesco world heritage site, must be clearer about diving heights from the rock, which was now one of the world's top 10 diving sites. It must also include "an alien species policy".

The council has also called for a full description of archaeological work undertaken on the island.

A public consultation process on a draft management plan of Skellig Michael, a sixth century monastic complex off the Kerry coast, was announced in July by Mr Gormley.

The State-owned island was given world heritage site status by Unesco in 1996, and the draft management plan to protect, conserve and manage the site will run for 10 years.

READ MORE

In the submission, drawn up by heritage officer Una Cosgrave-Hanley and adopted by councillors yesterday, Kerry County Council said the island was also renowned for its unique flora and fauna. Europe's second largest colony of gannets is just a mile away on Little Skellig.

There were many ground-nesting birds on the island "and the introduction, even temporarily, of domesticated animals such as cats and dogs or of rats would be devastating".

The submission calls for an alien species policy, and notices advising non-licensed boats of the issue. The council claims there is no provision for controlling access out-of-season as no personnel are stationed on the Skellig, and no control over private boats using the island.

It says there must be "more regular contact" with Kerry Co Council about work programmes.

Cllr Michael Cahill (FF), a regular visitor to the Skellig, again called for a safety rope on the steps leading to the top of the island. A German tourist had died after falling from the rock some years ago. Erecting the rope would not unduly interfere with the area.

"Common sense at an early stage would be a good thing," he said.

The report noted that the Skellig was considered one of the top 10 diving sites in the world, and clear instructions about the heights from which diving was allowed were needed. The common acceptance was that access was allowed up to the island's helipad, but that had to be clarified.