FEATURE
pinions have been divided about the filming of Star Wars on Skellig Michael, which took place on the UNESCO World Heritage site last September. On one side, conservation groups believed filming would threaten wildlife on the island, while others, assured of its apparent safety outlined in a report by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, saw filming of the acclaimed franchise as nothing more than a lucrative opportunity for Irish tourism. Plans for Lucasfilm (Star Wars’ production company) to shoot on the island were put in place back in April. However, it was when filming became known to the public that Minister for Arts Heather Humphreys began receiving complaints from wildlife conservation groups and members of the public concerned about the potential damage human presence could have on the monastic site as well as the protected bird population residing there. Since filming took place, a report carried out by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the National Monuments Service found that no damage was caused during production apart from two “minor incidents” involving a crew member catching their jacket on the edge of a stone and a small amount of water-based paint being spilled on rocks. The ques-
tion of whether we can ever obtain a clear picture of what impact Star Wars has had on Skellig Michael remains disputed. Dr Stephen Newton from BirdWatch Ireland recently told the Irish Times that damage caused to eggs or nests could not be fully accounted for as filming took place during breeding season. Pádraic Fogarty, Chairman of the Irish Wildlife Trust, says one of the major problems with Star Wars on Skellig Michael is how it was planned in a surreptitious manner. “Not only are the islands famous for their UNESCO designation, they’re also under the European Habitat’s Directive and designated for bird colonies,” he says. “They are under a legislation stating that any activity that is going to disturb them needs to be properly assessed and is prohibited to go ahead if it’s going to have a negative impact. The problems that were encountered were that the assessment was done very secretively. You’re supposed to look for the opinions of other interested parties. That wasn’t done.” So how does Fogarty believe filming could have affected wildlife? He says disturbance of nesting and disorientation could have been major factors. “Birds on the island, such as shearwaters and storm petrels, according to BirdWatch Ireland, nest well into September and October. They’re nocturnal, they don’t like artificial light, so you can imagine if there were spotlights and floodlights being used that this would have been a problem for them. Even in breeding season in that part of Kerry people are urged not to leave lights on in their garden because they can attract the birds and disorientate them.” Despite assurance that filming had no effect on the birds’ welfare, the Irish Wildlife Trust believes protected areas are unsuitable for such activity, no matter what the gain. “We believe that Skellig Michael is not suitable for Star Wars,” says Fogarty. “This is a UNESCO site, it has every conservation designation going and is
supposed to be one of our most precious areas. There are some things that are just not suitable. Is filming for Star Wars by Walt Disney compatible with the spirit of the area? I doubt it very much. This is the kind of boundary that is crossed when you do something like Star Wars on the Skelligs.” The saga will surely continue, but conservation of protected sites and species is an important issue that should remain at the heart of tourism sector discussion, and for events such as Star Wars on Skellig Michael, all stakeholders should be in a position to bring their concerns to the table in advance of production. “The value wildlife brings to our lives; sustaining our food and our water and our air are important,” declares Fogarty. “But at the end of the day it’s the spiritual and cultural value that wildlife brings to our lives that is so intrinsic to our wellbeing. They are values that cannot be monetised. I think you have to place the proper value on conservation, and we don’t see that at Government level. When you see what’s happened at the Skelligs, everything is for sale, everything can be monetised and everything can be translated into short-term gain. It’s just not a sustainable attitude.” Fogarty urges people to visit the Skellig Islands and see for themselves the value that lies in its natural beauty. “It’s a fantastic place. We always urge people to take every opportunity to go out and connect with nature and wildlife, it is an amazing thing we have.”
“THIS IS A UNESCO SITE, IT HAS EVERY CONSERVATION DESIGNATION GOING AND IS SUPPOSED TO BE ONE OF OUR MOST PRECIOUS AREAS. THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE JUST NOT SUITABLE. IS FILMING FOR STAR WARS BY WALT DISNEY COMPATIBLE WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE AREA? I DOUBT IT VERY MUCH. THIS IS THE KIND OF BOUNDARY THAT IS CROSSED WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE STAR WARS ON THE SKELLIGS.”
PÁDRAIC SAYS:
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