Madam, - I wish to respond to comments made by Mr Michael O'Sullivan, of Baltimore, Maryland, USA, (June 20th) regarding Skellig Michael, Co Kerry. I wish to clarify some inaccuracies contained in that letter and give greater detail to the ongoing conservation works being carried out on Skellig Michael.
The conservation works to the monastic hermitage on the South Peak have been planned over the course of a number of years. This site was first studied in depth and subsequently surveyed in great detail during the 1980s.
The loss of material and damage to the various constructed terraces and attendant structures have been identified in the intervening period. The ruins are not in fact stable, as the letter suggests. There has been damage, mainly due to weather erosion on terraces, which have lost much of their retaining walls.
There has also been damage and loss in places like the access traverse to the base of the Needle's Eye.
The conservation team assigned to these works is very aware of the importance and uniqueness of this site.
The work currently being undertaken is for the preservation of this site for future generations and the work itself is being done with great sensitivity to and respect for the site.
The team comprises an archaeologist, a conservation architect, a specialist engineer and an experienced health and safety representative together with a small group of very experienced masons who have many years of experience working in dry stone.
Any excavation and conservation works have been and will continue to be carried out in accordance with acceptable international standards and in accordance with relevant ICOMOS charters.
For any conservation works to take place on the terraces on the South Peak it has been necessary to provide a safe working platform for the conservation team. The safest and most effective way to get the scaffolding to the South Peak has been to set up a line and transport it directly to the terracing on the peak from above the monastery itself, where the scaffolding was located.
In order to secure the working scaffold it is necessary to drill into the rock beneath the terracing, and not "along the terracing" as the letter says.
When the works are completed and the final inspection has taken place, the scaffolding will be removed and the holes drilled will be filled with a suitable material.
There has been no drilling into the terraces.
In his letter Mr. O'Sullivan refers to "entire sections of new stone walling" having been erected. This is not correct.
Conservation works to date at the South Peak have involved consolidation work to the traverse below the Needle's Eye and a limited excavation to a small U-shaped enclosure above.
Since this work was initiated during the 2004 season this part of the island has been closed to visitors for reasons of safety.
It is difficult therefore to understand how Mr O'Sullivan can adequately attempt to assess the true situation.
We in the OPW share Mr O'Sullivan's view that this monument is something precious and will continue to care and maintain this national treasure to the highest possible standards. - Yours, etc,
GEORGE MOIR, Public Relations Officer, Office of Public Works, Dublin 2.