The Skellig Islands are a pair of islands located off the coast of County Kerry. Skellig Michael is the larger of the two, and it covers an area of 44 acres. The island was used as an isolated retreat by monks during the 6th century, and the beehive cells in which they lived are still standing today. The island’s only current residents are rare bird colonies such as Manx shearwaters, puffins and storm petrels. The smaller island is known as Little Skellig, and it covers an area of 17 acres. It is home to the largest colony of gannets in Ireland and Britain. Tour boats regularly circle the islands during the summer.