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If you wish to make
a financial donation to
Skibbereen Heritage
Centre.
Please click on the
button below. |
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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.
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 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.
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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.
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 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.
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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.
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