Skellig Michael landing tour — John O'Shea

Skellig Tours introduces John O’Shea as a second-generation Skelligs boat skipper, sailing from Derrynane Harbour — a historic south-Kerry port linked to the O’Connell family story. The route crosses Kenmare Bay past Deenish and Scariff before a long Skellig Michael landing; Little Skellig’s gannet city features on the return, with chances of dolphins and a skipper who knows the ground intimately. John O’Shea is the permitted operator for L’Oursin. Book directly; Echtra Echtra lists this for discovery only.

Skellig Michael — what to expect

Skellig Michael rises from the Atlantic about 12 km off the Kerry coast — a steep island crowned by a 6th-century monastic settlement and a UNESCO World Heritage Property. Access is only through licensed permit-holding boat operators.

The sea passage usually takes roughly 45–60 minutes each way, depending on conditions and your departure harbour (see the meeting point above). Along the route you typically pass Little Skellig (Sceilig Bheag), home to one of the world’s largest gannet colonies — thousands of breeding pairs, visible and audible from the boat.

On the island, OPW heritage guides meet landing parties and interpret the monastery and beehive cells. The climb of 618 steep, uneven steps needs reasonable fitness, sturdy closed footwear, and a head for heights. Children under 12 are not permitted on the island under OPW rules.

Landing is weather-dependent — always keep spare days in Kerry if Skellig Michael is the main goal.