Written answers
Tuesday, 22 June 2010
Department of Finance
Tourism Industry
8:00 am
Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 157: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will restore the full season at Skellig Michael which has been reduced by the Office of Public Works by three months with serious consequences for the local tourism sector. [26886/10]
Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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The Office of Public Works has a guide service on Skellig Michael between mid/late May and late September/early October each year. The island is officially open during this period. The Safety Review of Skellig Michael which has recently been published recommends that the official opening period for Skellig Michael should be advertised publicly, and safety literature draws attention to the fact that visits are restricted to the opening period.
Carolyn Gaughan
Posted on 24 Jun 2010 6:02 pm (Report this comment)
My husband fell to his death last May, 2009, and another woman fell to her death in Sept. 2009 from the same spot. Both families have been asking to have some type of barrier put in that particular area, but they have decided it would take away from the site. How many more people have to die before they do something. They can use the rocks from the island to put up some sort of barrier, and that would not deter from the site. Go to UTube and check out "The fabrication of Skellig Michael" When we were going to visit the site, we called for reservations, no one told us the site was not open to visitors at that time, there were no guides or medical personnel on the island, also there was a dispute between the boat operators and the OPW, and I understand they weren't licensed at that time to take people out to the island. I have read some posts on other sites where people have said maybe they should ban Americans!! What a shame they feel that way, because Americans add to the tourism of Ireland. Maybe going public to warn people who travel to Ireland to stay away from Skellig Michael would help.I am so upset that someone would think so little of a human life. I will not rest, nor will the other family, until they do something to protect visitors on the Island. We do not want another family to go through what we have, and will continue to go through. Can you imagine seeing one of your loved ones falling from a cliff and not being able to do anything to help!!!!! PLEASE PUT UP SOMETHING TO PROTECT VISITORS TO THE ISLAND!!!!!!