The Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland (IAI) has called on the Office of Public Works (OPW) to publish its management plan for Skellig Michael under Unesco world heritage site requirements.
The OPW recently denied there was any threat to the Unesco world heritage status of Skellig Michael as a result of works being carried out under its supervision, but has conceded that a management plan is not yet in place. A "formal process" has been initiated, it said, and a preliminary strategy was prepared as part of the 1996 world heritage status application.
The IAI has now asked the OPW to "outline and clarify the context, scope and extent of conservation works being carried out" on the former monastic island and national monument off the Kerry coast. This comes several weeks after Connemara-based archaeologist Michael Gibbons expressed concern about accidental damage caused to the island's South Peak oratory or hermitage. Mr Gibbons contends that such a plan should have been prepared when Unesco status was awarded 10 years ago.
The structure was built by the island's monks some time between the 6th and 8th centuries, when they laid out three separate terraces on the edge of rock some 218m (715ft) above sea level. An "over-restoration" by the OPW had resulted in a "reconstruction" of sections of the oratory rather than conservation, Mr Gibbons said, and had caused damage to an original altar.
Mr Gibbons said independent evaluation of work, as required under Unesco guidelines, was critical to prevent over-restoration of sites. No restoration should be done on Skellig Michael beyond the "absolute minimum necessary", he said.
OPW archaeological and architectural staff have described Mr Gibbons's comments as "ill-informed and unjustified".
In a related development, Des Lavelle, author of a book on the rock and operator of one of the ferry permits for Skellig Michael, has criticised the OPW's approach to managing public access to the island. He said its annual system of issuing ferry permits lacked a long-term strategy and suggested it may be "trying to close the island down to the public bit by bit". According to Mr Lavelle, some 19 annual permits had fallen to 14, and the OPW had no transfer system in cases where boat operators retired.
Skellig Michael is one of three Irish archaeological sites with Unesco world heritage status, along with Brú na Bóinne and the Giant's Causeway.
