Location: Skibbereen
Top Things to do in Skibbereen
Top 8 Things to do Good for a Rainy Day 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. Cahalane's Bar
2. St. Patrick's Cathedral
3. The Tanyard
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 19 reviews
Reviewed By croccarroll - Cork, Ireland
Great Pub in the centre of Skibbereen town. A great selection of gin and the barman Dermot was very friendly and informative. We were there for the acoustic sessions in the main bar on the Sunday evening. Great vibe and good banter with the locals. A must visit if you are visiting West Cork!
4. Cre Pottery Studio
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 13 reviews
Paint your own pottery at Cre. Suitable for all ages How does it work? 1.Choose from hundreds of pieces of pottery 2.Paint and Glaze your piece (or choose our Foam Clay for a take-home-same-day option) 3. Return 3-4 days later to collect your piece All whist drinking great coffee and eating a homemade cake. Potter's Wheel lessons and Ceramics classes also offered. Commissions Taken.
Reviewed By HelenP3t - Dublin, Ireland
The pottery studio had organised Covid measures very well and the staff were very welcoming. The pottery painting is great fun, relaxing and a lovely way to spend an hour or two. We were a group of 6 adults and we had lots of fun, but undoubtedly children would love it also. Well organised, not too expensive and a lovely personal souvenir of your holidays to bring home. You do need to plan this though because the pottery needs to be glazed and fired, so you call back to the studio after about 3 days to pick it up. However, if that doesn't fit with your schedule, the studio will ship it to you (don't know if there is an extra cost for this, as we didn't need to).
5. 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.
6. The Treehouse Indoor Play Centre and Cafe
7. 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.
