Skellig Michael ‘Star Wars’ filming cancelled amid high winds
Small boats servicing site refuse to go to sea due to poor weather and rough conditions
Filming at Skellig Michael was cancelled on Monday morning due to high winds. Photograph Charles McQuillan/GC Images
High winds around Portmagee and Ballinskelligs saw filming of Star Wars: Episode VIII on the Unesco World heritage site of Skelllig Michael cancelled on Monday morning, with the small boats which service the site refusing to go to sea.
Locals say the seas were too rough for the boats on Monday morning.
Over 100 mm of rain has fallen in Kerry since Friday, leading to the cancellation of two days of Listowel Harvest Festival.
The afternoon meeting was cancelled Monday and a decision has also been taken to postpone Tuesday’s meeting.
Two rain episodes over the weekend, one on Friday night and the other on Sunday night, resulted in “exceptional rainfall” over the western coasts of Munster and Connacht.
Met Éireann forecaster Pat Clarke described the wet weather as “abnormal” and “not what you’d expect” at this time of year. He said the combination of two rain episodes, which occurred within 48 hours of each other, resulted in localised flooding in the west of the country.
“The wettest months in Ireland are the winter months but we can get heavy rainfall in August for example,” said Mr Clarke.
It’s been a very cool year in Ireland despite heat waves across Europe and other parts of the world, said the forecaster. “Every month temperatures have been below normal in Ireland this year.”
Mr Clarke said the rain was due to clear by Monday evening, adding that temperatures may slightly rise up into the mid and high teens at the end of the week. However, temperatures around the country are expected to remain below average, he said.
Roads remain treacherous in Kerry with at least three oil spills resulting from the impact on the wet and flood conditions on car engines.
On Monday morning, drivers were urged to take extra care due to flooding in many parts along the west coast following heavy rainfall.
Met Éireann had issued status orange and yellow weather alerts, which expired at noon. A yellow weather warning for rainfall for Munster and Galway is in place until midnight.
A woman and her three children had to be rescued when she drove into flood waters near Ballineen in West Cork around 4pm this afternoon.
It’s understood that the woman was driving at Ardkitt outside the village when she attempted to drive through flood waters and her car got stuck.
In Clifden, the Sky Road has reopened following a landslide, as has Beach Road, which closed due to flooding. The road between Cleggan Cross and Cleggan Village is now passable, but AA Roadwatch advise taking extra care.
In Mayo, motorists are advised to take extra care along the Mulranny/Achill road due to flooding, while the crossroad at the Strand in Doogort, Achill is closed until further notice following a fatal crash.
AA Roadwatch has advised drivers only to attempt driving through water if they know its not too deep for their car. Motorists should allow oncoming traffic to pass first and test their brakes as soon as possible after leaving the water.
Overall, Met Éireann says conditions will be dry for the rest of the week. There will be some scattered showers and temperatures will be in the mid to high teens.
