It is believed that St Fionán founded a monastery on Skellig Michael in the 6th century. Even though the monks likely left the island in the 13th century, many of the beehive huts in which they lived are still intact. It remained a place of pilgrimage for Catholics during the time of the Penal Laws. Getting to the top entails climbing 618 steps. Skellig Michael was used as a location in the production of two films in the Star Wars series.