11 May Great And Little Skellig , County Kerry
Just off the Kerry coast lies a group of three rocky islands. Great Skellig , or Sceilg Mhichil , the largest of them , has a 500ft climb up a 1000 year old stone stairway , a test of stamina that brings visitors to one of the most magnificent monastic sites in Europe , dating from around AD 800.
Surprisingly well preserved stone beehive huts , in which the monks lived centuries ago , cling to the cliff edges , along with oratories , cemeteries , stone crosses , holy wells and the Church of St Michael.
Nearby Little Skellig , An Sceilg Bheag , is a sea-bird sanctuary , home to more than 20,000 paints of gannets , as well as hundreds of kittiwakes , guillemots , petrels , shearwaters and fulmars. They are best seen in June , July and August. Puffin Island , farther North , is also a bird sanctuary.
The islands are a must see on your tours of Ireland.