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Irish Dominican Friars have expressed disappointment that a request for permission to film at Skellig Michael has been refused by the Office of Public Works, a report in the Irish Catholic has revealed.Ā Ā
However, the priest who hoped to use the ancient site to film said the OPW had always been helpful on other projects and he did not feel “remotely persecuted” – and that h had asked to be put on a waiting list in case of cancellations.
The Order is currently filmingĀ a series of videos for their YouTube channel to tell the story of Irish religious/historical places from the religious viewpoint.
Fr Conor McDonough OP wrote on XĀ on June 27, āNo permission from OPW to film on Skellig Michael.Ā Such a shame.Ā Iād been really looking forward to it from the start of our series.āĀ Fr Conor said that these videos are āa case of the Church telling her own storyā.
No permission from OPW to film on Skellig Michael. Such a shame. I'd been really looking forward to it from the start of our series.
— Conor McDonough OP āļø (@ConorMcDonough4) June 27, 2024
The island has been a religious place for centuries and many martyrs have died there; in the year 823 Norse pirates raided the Skelligs and wiped out the whole community.
Controversially, the American production company Lucasfilm received permission to film scenes for both Star Wars films The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi which involve bringing large film crews to the island.
Martina Purdy, a journalist and pilgrim guide for St Patrickās Way in Co. Down told the Irish Catholic that āSkellig Michael was opened up for Star Wars which has really nothing to do with its authentic original meaning. These sites are sacred and they are actually famous for a reason – they were made famous by the religious.Ā
āWe should be able to reclaim the high places our Faith. To turn the Dominicans away is just really ridiculous and I find it hard to believe that in an entire summer schedule they canāt find some time for the Dominicans to go there, but of course it doesnāt suit the new religion of the State.ā
Hugh MacMahon wrote is his book Voices from the Desert that āSkellig Michael itself was occupied by individual hermits during the medieval period and the Canons encouraged pilgrims to go thereā.
The Diocese of Kerryās website says that āeven today with mass tourism bringing many visitors to the Skellig, there is always an element of pilgrimage about going to Skellig.āĀ
And the OPWās Heritage Services mention that āthe monks left the island in the thirteenth century. It became a place of pilgrimage and, during the time of the Penal Laws, a haven for Catholics.ā
āI wonder if there was an application from Hollywood how it would be considered?ā, Ms Purdy asked.
However, writing on X, Fr Conor has vowed not to give into the Dark Side and hopes that the OPW will have a cancellation on their schedule this summer.
He later added that “the OPW has helped us film at dozens of other sites. This decision is unfortunate, but I don’t feel remotely persecuted.”
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