HOME PAGE
GREAT FAMINE EXHIBATION
LOUGH HYNE CENTRE
GENEALOGY
CENTRE INFORMATION
LINKS
UPDATES
  
If you wish to make
a financial donation to
Skibbereen Heritage
Centre.
Please click on the
button below.
Donate
 
Skibbereen Famine Scene
The Great Irish Potato Famine of the 1840s is now recognised as the worst human disaster of 19th century Europe. In 1841 the population of Ireland was 8.5 million people. By 1850, at least one million died in terrible conditions. Another million emigrated as refugees. It is estimated that a further half a million births did not take place as a direct result of The Great Hunger. 
The Skibbereen area was one of the worst affected by the Irish Famine. It became notorious as the centre of some of the most harrowing suffering endured by famine victims throughout the country.

From newspaper accounts of the time, Skibbereen was depicted as being symbolic of the destitution and hardship caused by the failure of the pototo crop. Between 8,000 and 10,000 unidentified souls are buried in the Famine graveyard at Abbeystrewery near Skibbereen.

The Great Famine Commemoration Exhibition at the Skibbereen Heritage Centre commemorates this period of Irish history and serves as a tribute to the suffering of the local population. 

The Exhibition portrays the Great Famine through the primary source accounts of the time. It also shows overviews of government policies at the time and reports from the relief committee in their attempts to alleviate the suffering of Skibbereen families. The story is told through the dramatisation by actors including Jeremy Irons of actual events, allowing us to follow the historical sequence of the era.

A touch screen monitor gives factual information on the Famine and Souperism, augmented by information panels and artifacts of the period, including an original soup cauldron from a Relief Soup Kitchen. 

Follow The Skibbereen Trail, a ‘virtual’ walk visiting the sites, which have direct links with the Great Famine. Some sites commemorate great works of philanthropy, others of emigration, more of Relief Schemes, while others tell of famine, fear and death. This can be augmented by walking the route around the town, following a leaflet on sale at the Centre.

The Skibbereen Heritage Centre welcomes any donations of artefacts or material relating to The Great Famine, either on loan or for permanent exhibition, and all donors are credited. Thank you.

 

Home | Great Famine | Lough Hyne | GenealogyInformation | Resources | Updates

  Skibbereen Heritage Centre

  Old Gas Works, Upper Bridge Street, Skibbereen, Co. Cork, Ireland

  Telephone: (353) 28 40900    E-mail: info@skibbheritage.com