Location: Skibbereen
Top Things to do in Skibbereen
Top 5 Museums in Skibbereen, Province of Munster
Skibbereen (/ˌskɪ.bəˈriːn/; Irish: An Sciobairín), is a town in County Cork, Ireland. It is located on the N71 national secondary road. The name "Skibbereen" (sometimes shortened to "Skibb") means "little boat harbour". The River Ilen runs through the town; it reaches the sea about 12 kilometers away, at the seaside village of Baltimore. As of the Census of Ireland 2011, the population of the town (not including the rural hinterland) was 2,568. Skibbereen is in the Cork South–West (Dáil Éireann) constituency, which has five seats.
Restaurants in Skibbereen
1. Skibbereen Heritage Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 368 reviews
Skibbereen Heritage Centre's Great Famine Exhibition tells the poignant story of this pivotal period in Irish history. Skibbereen became notorious as one of the worst affected areas in all of Ireland and this tragic era is now brought to life via the latest multimedia technology. Walk or take a virtual tour of sites associated with the Great Famine that still exist today including the mass graves where almost 10,000 people are buried. At Skibbereen Heritage Centre you can also discover the unique nature of Lough Hyne, a salt-water lake just 5km from Skibbereen which is Europe's first Marine Nature Reserve. Find out about the history, folklore and formation of this renowned natural phenomenon with a multi-lingual audio-visual display and follow with a trip to the lake and follow the Knockomagh Wood Nature Trail which overlooks the lake. Skibbereen Heritage Centre also offers a genealogy service for the greater West Cork area, an archaeology trail, a gift shop, reference library and a great welcome!
Reviewed By FoxWynne - County Cork, Ireland
This museum, though small, looks extensively at the causes and effects of the Irish Famine, with particular emphasis on the impacts in the local area. I was surprised at the depth of detail, especially the interlocked causes of the Famine - the museum didn't pander to any simplified explanation, nor did it lay the blame in any particular camp, and did a fantastic job of illustrating the points with interesting examples (written, documentary and through artefacts). The museum also has a very natural flow, which helps direct the visitor, and nicely covers both the background and the aftermath of the Famine years. Unfortunately, the Irish version of the Jeremy Irons video does not actually have Jeremy Irons speaking in Irish, it's merely subtitled. The accompanying Lough Hyne video is definitely worth seeing, especially if you're planning on making a trip down to the lake itself. The staff are friendly, the space is bright and there is a lovely view over the Ilen (spend a couple of minutes on the terrace). When we visited, it was during the easing of the initial lock-down, and, given the restrictions, the museum was very well-equipped for visitors, with disinfectant available at the entrance and beside each interactive exhibit.
2. Catherine Hammond Gallery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
The preeminent contemporary art gallery in Cork, showing some of Ireland's best mid-career and established artists.
3. West Cork Arts Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 15 reviews
Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre is a hub of arts activity right in the heart of Skibbereen. Its two main galleries house contemporary art exhibitions that intrigue and inspire, presenting artwork by local, national and international artists and a programme of guided tours, gallery talks and free gallery resources such as the Discovery Box for families and Children's Activity Sheets. The three Artists' Studios provide space for artists to work on site and to meet the public, and the Dance Residency brings top-class contemporary dancers, choreographers, performers and musicians to Uillinn to develop new work and present it to the public throughout the year. Free entry, perfect for rainy day activities, or to relax and enjoy a delicious coffee and cake in the sunny, sheltered courtyard courtesy of The Coffee Shop@Uillinn, West Cork Arts Centre has something for everyone.
4. JB Gallery
The JB Gallery and artist studio opened in 2015 and is run by Jennifer Baumeister, a German artist who studied Fine Arts in Philadelphia and Berlin and now uses the space to work on and exhibit her art. In addition to that she offers art classes and hosts the pop-up exhibition ArtShot featuring varying artists every last Saturday of the month. The gallery also offers hand-crafted silver jewellery and diverse hand-crafted gifts and cards.
5. Working Artists Studios
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
