Where Monks Meet Jedi: Islands and Exile on Ireland’s Skellig Michael

Abstract:

In the final scene of the 2015 film Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the character Rey arrives at an island on a remote planet hidden at the edge of the galaxy. There, she encounters Luke Skywalker, a man seeking refuge and isolation at this forgotten outpost. In the subsequent film, we learn that the island was once host to a temple of “Jedi” whose memory remains visually present through the preservation of their ancient stone dwellings. Both of these films were shot on-location at Skellig Michael, an island off the southwest coast of Ireland. The stone dwellings presented in the film were no work of fiction or set design; they were built by Gaelic monks who established a monastery on the island in the 6th century A.D. Since then, Skellig Michael has evolved into a protected bird sanctuary, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a popular tourist destination for both history-lovers and Star Wars film fans alike. 

In this presentation, we intend to connect the historical and pop-cultural identities of the island by focusing on the island’s role as an expression of spiritual destination. Additionally, we will discuss the appeal felt by travelers who subsequently visit the island either historically as a representation of religious geographic history or as a function of film site tourism. 

Using historical site and film analysis as well as on-site accounts, we will explore religious expression activated by the island of Skellig Michael from the perspectives of both ancient and modern cultures.

Keywords: Tourism, Media, Religion, Film, Ireland, Star Wars

Authors: