Re-opening access to Sceilg Mhichíl is crucially important for local tourism, and untold damage will be done if a dispute over permits for boat operators is not quickly resolved, a local Fianna Fáil councillor has said.
The UNESCO World Heritage site off the coast of Co Kerry, which is managed by the Office of Public Works, did not open as scheduled at the weekend because of a legal challenge by three boat operators whose permits were not renewed.
There have been calls for temporary permits to be issued to boat operators, including to those who were unsuccessful.
The Sceilg Mhichíl landing season with boats from Portmagee, Doire Fhíonáin, Baile an Sceilg and Valentia operates between May and the third week of September each year.
A maximum of 180 visitors a day are allowed land on the seventh-century monastic island 11.5km off the Kerry coastline.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Cllr Norma Moriarty said if the row over the permits is not resolved then "untold damage" will be done "to this great amenity and to our reputation as a tourism destination".
"It will leave a very sour taste in the mouths of an awful lot of people, and people will just lose trust and faith in a booking that they have to make so far in advance. So it's very important that it gets resolved."
Sceilg Mhichíl boat permits for landing passengers take into account sea vessel safety, the restrictions on numbers visiting, as well as the unique and very challenging landing conditions on the fragile island, which is both a heritage site and a special conservation area for birds.
Fifteen boat landing permits are normally offered for five-year terms and renewed annually under a public tendering system.
However, three operators whose permits were not renewed for 2025 have now taken a judicial review.
Three other operators were selected but none of the approved 15 permits have been issued.
Cllr Moriarty pointed out that a previous judicial review over a disputed licence a number of years ago allowed other operators to continue working.
There is precedence to let other boat operators continue working despite the dispute, she said.
Cllr Moriarty, who is based in Waterville, said weather is normally the enemy of access to the Sceilgs but the conditions currently "couldn't be better".
People book their trip to Sceilg Mhichíl far in advance, she added, because only a limited number of visitors are allowed a year.
"This is a terrible situation for the boat operators and visitors," she said.
"Trips to the Sceilgs are much, much sought after, obviously, because it's restricted. So only a certain few can actually manage to get on the island over the course of the season.
"But also, just because it is such an older, worldly, breathtaking experience to go on on Sceilg Mhicihíl."
