19 (40) The Ring of Kerry The scenic route Ring of Kerry makes a circle around the Iveragh Peninsula. At Waterville, the very southern point of the route, there is a panoramic view over the Skellig Islands. On bright days you can see these sharp rocks, these forbidding little islands, stand out clear against the horizon. Celtic monks travelled to these islands to find an isolated dwelling for their penance. Here, at the outskirts of civilization, where only God could hear their voices, the Coptic inspired monks founded Saint Finian's Abbey in AD 560. The unpredictable weather and the erosion have made the islands unfit to live in. The last of the resident population were forced away in the fifties.   18 20 First published: Friday 20th December, 2002 Send a to the author! You may also use this form