Skibbereen is a village in the southwest of County Cork, Ireland. An Sciobairín means "the little boat harbour" - it would have to be a small boat to get this far up the River Ilen. Skibbereen was one of the worst affected places during the Famine of 1845-52, and it's reckoned that up to 10,000 victims are buried in the mass grave here, with a similar number fleeing to an unknown fate. The village is nowadays a small resort, with a population of 2900 in 2022.
The Tourist Office[dead link] is in village centre, open W-F 10AM-2PM.
Get in
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Skibbereen is on N71, about 85 km west of Cork. Bus Eireann 237 runs daily every two hours from Cork via Inishannon, Bandon, Clonakilty, Rosscarbery and Leap, taking 1 hour 45 min to Skibbereen. Here the service branches, with four buses running to Baltimore (10 min), and three to Ballydehob and Schull (30 min).
Bus 270 runs from Killarney: most turn back at Kenmare but three a day cross the hills to Glengarriff, Bantry and Skibbereen. Since 2023 this route runs all year, plugging a major gap in the network.
A local bus plies M-F to Bantry, setting off at 8AM and taking an hour via Ballydehob and Durrus, and setting off back around 4PM.
1 Market Street is the main bus stop. They may also stop on Bridge St, on North St by the cathedral and council offices, and south on Baltimore Rd.
2 Cunnamore is the ferry pier for Heir Island. It sails daily year-round every 2 hours, adult return €6, child €3, foot passengers only. See Baltimore for ferries to Sherkin Island and Cape Clear; this also has a summer service to Heir Island and trips to Fastnet. See Schull for ferries to Long Island.
Get around
[edit]You need a car, as many places of interest are several km out.
Taxi firms are West Cork Cabs (+353 28 63500) and Dolphin Taxis (+353 86 606 7037).
See
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- 1 Skibbereen Heritage Centre (Ionad Oidhreachta an Sciobairín), Old Gasworks Building, Upper Bridge St P81 WK06, ☏ +353 28 40900. May-Sep M-Sa 10AM-6PM, Mar, Apr & Oct Tu-Sa 10AM-6PM, Nov-Feb Th F 10AM-5PM. Museum with exhibitions on Lough Hyne, and on the Great Famine when this area was badly hit. They also have resources for genealogy research. Adult €6, conc €4.50, child €3.
- The Maid of Erin is the statue in village centre expressing heartfelt thanks that rebellions against the British were defeated, in 1798, 1803, 1848 and 1867. Surely it was only for lack of room for further dates that they didn't add 1916 for the Easter Rising.
- West Cork Arts Centre, Uillinn P81 VW98, ☏ +353 28 22090. M-Sa 10AM-4:30PM. Exhibitions of modern art, studio space and classes, in a boxy rust-coloured building that some hate. Donation.
- 2 St Patrick's Cathedral, North St. A neo-classical building completed in 1826. The title "cathedral" is informal, it lost that status when the diocese was merged with Cork in 1958.
- 3 Abbeystrowry Cemetery is on N71, one km west of the village. As it was originally part of an abbey it's been in use for centuries, but is best known for the mass grave of some 8000-10,000 famine victims. Much of the cemetery was already full when the Great Famine struck in 1845, so a mass pit was dug and bodies unceremoniously hurled in - often secretly at night, as families didn't want it known they were afflicted. It's free to enter 24 hours.
- 4 Lough Hyne 7 km southwest of the village is a seawater lake. It's almost completely closed off from the sea, so the tides rush in and out through rapids. It's a nature reserve and there's a kayaking centre. You can swim, though there isn't a beach. The islet in the middle has the overgrown remains of a castle.
- 5 Leap is a village on N71 midway between Clonakilty and Skibbereen. It has a few bars and eating places. North side of the main road is a ravine with a stream cascading into it: legend goes that a chieftain escaped the English by leaping across it, hence the village name. In 2013 the stream bank was decorated with models of fairies and their teensy-weensy dwellings, to emetic effect. The stream flows into Glandore Harbour - see Clonakilty for Glandore village and Drombeg Stone Circle on the east bank.
- 6 Union Hall is a small fishing village on the west bank of the Glandore inlet, with a couple of bars and that's about all. You get here by the east bank road from Leap towards Glandore, then cross Poulgorm Bridge. This is very narrow, but if you've driven this far into west Cork without scraping the car you're obviously equal to the challenge.
- 7 Castletownshend: see separate page for this harbour village.
- 8 Heir Island is 2.5 km long by 1.5 km wide, and reached by ferry from Cunnamore. It has beaches, nature reserve and B&B. Island Cottage (+353 28 38102) is a restaurant open for lunch mid-June to mid-Sep Sa Su at 2:15PM, timed for the 2PM outward ferry and 4PM return. They also have a cookery school.
- Sky Garden, Liss Ard Estate (200 m south of hotel). Daily 9AM-dusk. An artificial grassy crater, created by American artist James Turrell. It contains a stone double bed where you view the sky above. Visit also the rest of the hotel gardens and surrounds. Non-residents €15.
Do
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- Atlantic Sea Kayaking have two locations: Reen Pier near Union Hall, and Loch Hyne, where one specialty is a night kayak trip.
- Golf: the golf course is 2 km southwest on R595 towards Baltimore.
- Wild Atlantic Way is a coastal motoring route from Cork away up to Donegal. It starts at Old Kinsale Head and heads west via Clonakilty, Rosscarbery, Glandore and Leap to Skibbereen. If time allows, turn aside to Baltimore and the islands of Roaringwater Bay. Then continue west through Ballydehob and Schull to Mizen Head; then north to Bantry and into County Kerry. Only another 2000 km to go.
- Carbery Show is an agricultural show in Skibbereen in July.
- Skibbereen Arts Festival is July / August.
Buy
[edit]- Aldi off Bridge St is open M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 9AM-9PM.
- Farmers' Market is held on the car park outside Aldi Sa 9:30AM-2PM.
- The three banks have ATMs.
Eat
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- Wild Ways is at 68 Bridge St P81 PR20, open Tu-Sa 10AM-9PM
- Church Restaurant is on Bridge St P81 EE85, open Tu-Sa noon-8PM.
- An Chistin Beag is at 46 Bridge St P81 KW57, open Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM.
- Kalbo's Cafe is at 26 North St P81 FX43, open Tu-Sa 9AM-4PM.
Drink
[edit]- Pubs in Skibbereen include Tanyard, Kearney's Well, Horse and Hound, Corner Bar and Ilen Bar.
- West Cork Distillers at 16 Castletownshend Rd was founded in 2003 and produces whiskey, gin and vodka.
Sleep
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- West Cork Hotel, Ilen St P81 FH63 (by Heritage Centre), ☏ +353 28 21277. Friendly mid-range hotel, some rooms tired but great service and value for money. With kennels. Not to be confused with West Cork Hostel on Main St, a mercy that it's closed. B&B double €120.
- Eldon Hotel, 21 Bridge St P81 D232, ☏ +353 28 22802. "A credit to the town" is visitors' reaction to this smart mid-range hotel. That said, one of the few people not to post a favourable review was Michael Collins, since he was slain in an ambush shortly after dining here in 1922. B&B double €180.
- Bridge House, 46 Bridge St P81 XN80, ☏ +353 87 949 8925. Remarkable B&B in a Victorian townhouse, the whole place is a work of art, and the owner Mona Best gets the basics right as well.
- Annie Mays is a B&B at 11 Bridge St P81 RV07.
- Glencora is a B&B on Upper Bridge St P81 ND35, 200 m west of the Heritage Centre.
- 1 Hideaway Camping and Caravan Park, 10 Castletownsend Rd P81 EV78, ☏ +353 28 22254. Well run site open May - Sep. 60 pitches for caravans, motorhomes, and tents. Tent or caravan €28.
- 2 Liss Ard Estate, Castletownsend Rd, Russagh P81 NP44, ☏ +353 28 40000. Grand country mansion open April-Oct, often hosting weddings. The Turrell "Sky Garden" is in its grounds. B&B double €350.
- 3 PK Lodge, Smorane P81 KX57, ☏ +353 28 21749. Splendid welcoming guesthouse. B&B double €350.
Connect
[edit]As of August 2025, Skibbereen and its approach roads have 4G from Three, and 5G from Eir and Vodafone.
Go next
[edit]- Baltimore just down the road south has marine activities and ferries to the islands.
- East the countryside becomes gentler towards Clonakilty and Cork.
- West is Schull and Mizen Head.
- Bantry is a good base for all three of the southwest Cork peninsulas.