These days, it’s hard to tell what exactly is shot on green screen and on a real set. In this case, Disney and Lucasfilm used a real island that’s a small boat ride away from Ireland. And now, it’s a pretty great tourist attraction.
What Is Skellig Michael?
Just off the southwest coast of Ireland lies a mysterious island – Skellig Michael. It looks more like a volcano popping out of the Atlantic Ocean than a traditional island. Between the 6th and 8th centuries, monks braved the fierce ocean waters and built a monastery there.
Some of the relics from Skellig Michael’s monastery still standing today include beautiful stone huts shaped like igloos. There’s also a tower house as well as a slab called the “Wailing Woman,” which is inscribed with a cross.
While monks haven’t lived on Skellig Michael for many years, it still hosts a wide variety of wildlife. These include puffins, gannets, grey seals, and razorbills. Because of its historical and religious significance, Skellig Michael was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996.
How Did Skellig Michael End Up in Star Wars?
Originally, JJ Abrams and Rian Johnson, the directors of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and “The Last Jedi” decided that Skellig Michael would be the perfect location for Luke to live the life of a hermit. And it turns out that minimal digital work was done as they loved the look of the island so much.
One fascinating change they made in post-production was to transform the puffins of the island into intergalactic flying creatures known as Porgs.
Is It Accessible to the Public?
Thankfully, it is possible to visit Skellig Michael and experience it for yourself. There are a handful of organized boat rides scheduled each week. So you need to make sure you book well in advance as spaces tend to fill up very fast.
The weather on and around Skellig Michael can be quite treacherous for large parts of the year. Boat trips are normally unavailable during the autumn and winter seasons. The best time to go is definitely during the middle of the summer when the waters are at their calmest.
Once on the island, visitors need to be very careful while ascending the rock as the 600 medieval stone steps can be quite delicate and slippy.