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THERE WAS MUCH controversy around the filming that took place on Skellig Michael.
The island off the coast of Kerry is a Unesco world heritage site and is being used as a location for the new Star Wars VII and Star Wars VIII films.
An Taisce had raised concerns that filming could damage the local ecology and rats could accidentally inhabit the island.
Despite these objections, permission was granted for shooting to go ahead by Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys, with strict considerations for environmental and ecological preservation.
The damage done
Both the Office of Public Works and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht have been keen to emphasise that no substantial damage was caused to the island.
A spokesperson for the the Department told TheJournal.ie that, “The steps on Skellig Michael and other stones in the National Monument can be slightly loosened from time to time through harsh weather, the actions of nesting birds or by visitors to the island.”
Following the filming, some routine maintenance work was carried out by on-site staff. This did not incur any additional cost.
In a parliamentary question, Minister with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works Simon Harris said that following the filming some damage was repaired on the steps leading up to the Monastery on Skellig Michael.
A second minor repair was also required an entry point on a wall near to the monastery which had been previously damaged in June.
Operations on the island
Speaking last month about opposition to the filming, Minister Humphreys said, “Those attempting to turn this into a negative story seem to be completely overlooking the fact that up to 180 people visit the island on any given day”.
Skellig Michael is open to visitors for around four and a half months of the year, from May through until September.
During this time between 11,500 and 12,000 visitors are expected to visit the island, weather permitting.
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Good to see shops lowering their prices. They make too much of a profit anyway and usually sell items at a massive markup.
@Sam Lean: that’s to pay for rent, staff, utility bills, insurance, the list goes on. Plus if you were to invest your money in opening a shop wouldn’t you want a decent return on your investment and risk. Whatever people are willing to pay that’s what you sell for. How else would you see a scarf in brown Thomas for several hundred euro or a t-shirt for a fiver in penny’s.
@Sam Lean: So why don’t the same rules apply to the likes of petrol stations an power suppliers
Wetherspoons near me – have made the other pubs nearby reduce their prices!
More recently with a lower value sterling,prices should be coming down even more but i wouldn’t be holding my breath.If you still compare pricing in Tesco or other british owned stores,there is a huge disparity on prices especially when currencies are factored in.
So when competing companies sell at a lower price the market reacts and reduces its prices. I think I learned that concept in Bus Org in 1st year at school.
Ya gotta love competition!!
Grafton St and Henry St!! No other shopping areas outside the Pale?
No.
It boggles my mind to see so many people buy the s€€€ that penny’s sell.
Im not a label person but penny’s products are completely substandard.
Sweat shop slavery, made for kids by kids and they pass the slavings on to the customers.
@Trevor Hayden: You’re 100% right. It’s not like people typically shop in Penny’s out of pure neccessity. It’s because people are greedy and want, want, want without a second thought about where their products come from or their ramifications. It’s grotesque. The same people claim people who shop more conscientiously have “notions”. God forbid your ethical clothing costs more than a basic lunch.
@Trevor Hayden: all clothes retailers have sweatshops, people who make clothing for more expensive shops don’t get paid any better
@Rui Firmino: I’m usually 100% in agreement with you except I know for a fact my Lanvin sweaters were made in Italy by workers receiving a fair wage in good condition. Sure, they cost me 4-500€ but the last me years, never change shape, colour or fit and it’s production respected people.
@Titus Groan: Not talking about jigh end clothes, the likes of H&M, Zara, Topman and others pay their workers as bad as Penneys
@Rui Firmino: Yeah, completely true.
It’s called competition but the Grafton days are numbered. The footfall is in decline and the shops are just charging to high prices to pay for the high rents.
20.5% increase in rents predicted for Grafton Street but a 1.5% drop in footfall? Either Savilles are trying to hype up the market (quelle surprise) or some property speculators are just stupid.
So if shops are lowering their prices… does this mean the poor workers making this stuff to satisfy the ridiculous amount of fast fashion consumption who already getting a crap wage are going to be even worse off? Great. I hope this makes everyone feel good.
2 washes and they shrink – built in obsolesce
have your say