Skibbereen Heritage Centre has two primary exhibitions – one on the Great Famine, the second on Lough Hyne, and also provides a genealogy service for the greater West Cork area.

The area around Skibbereen was one of the worst affected areas by The Great Famine (An Górta Mór) of 1845-1852 a period of mass starvation, disease and emigration which claimed the lives of over one million Irish people and forced the emigration of nearly two million more while the country was under British rule.

Gain an insight into this complex period of Irish history through personal accounts of those who experienced the Great Famine in Skibbereen. Learn more about this important period of Irish history through exhibitions, dramatisations and interactive stations at the Great Irish Famine Exhibition at Skibbereen Heritage Centre.

Find out how government actions and local and international relief measures impacted on the people of the area.

Take a ‘virtual tour’ of Famine sites in the town and hear the stories associated with them.

Appreciate the enormity of this national tragedy in microcosm through the experiences of the people of Skibbereen during Ireland’s Great Famine.

13 MARCH - 30 APRIL & OCTOBER:

Tuesday to Saturday 10:00-18:00

MAY - SEPTEMBER: Daily ex Sunday 10:00-18:00

WINTER OPENING: On request