St. Fionan’s Monastery

St Fionan’s monastery is located on the summit of the magnificent Skellig Michael, one of only two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Republic of Ireland. The monastery is one of the earliest foundations in the country. The monks who lived there prayed and slept in beehive-shaped huts made of stone, many of which remain to this day. The monks left the island in the thirteenth century but the area became a place of pilgrimage and, during the time of the Penal Laws, a haven for Catholics. You can follow the monks’ footsteps to climb 618 steep and uneven steps to get to the top. It is quite a challenge, but well worth the effort.