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The Skellig Islands, off the Iveragh Penninsula, County Kerry. It’s said the monastery on Skellig Michael. the larger of the two islands in the photo below was founded by Saint Fionan. Why he chose one of the most bleakest outlying regions of western Europe is one for a long nights discussion. Possibly he was trying to get away from it all. Too many sheep, viking raids, and bothersome local authority looking for taxes or something similar. Maybe it was a statement. But when I looked over from Bray Head on Valentia Island and saw the islands shrouded in mist and, the sun setting, a little of the magic of the place was instilled in me. The Skelligs speak of natures silence. They were one of the last places in the known world at the time where the suns rays last would fall on a day of prayer and penance. A hard life for anybody, by any standards, but did it give much to the monks?