The Great Irish Potato Famine of the 1840s is now recognised as the worst humanitarian disaster of nineteenth century Europe. In 1841 the population of Ireland was over 8.5 million people.

Take a ‘virtual tour’ of Famine sites in the town and hear the stories associated with them. Appreciate the enormity of this national tragedy in microcosm through the experiences of the people of Skibbereen during Ireland’s Great Famine.

Following their tour of the Famine exhibition at Skibbereen Heritage Centre, many visitors make their way to Abbeystrowry burial ground, the site of one of the most poignant and significant Famine memorials in Ireland.

The infamous Famine Burial Pits at Abbeystrowry hold the remains of up to 10,000 unidentified victims. Skibbereen: The Famine Story exhibition, book, app and walking trail gives an insight into this pivotal period in Irish history through the experiences of local people and tells the stories of the sites in the town where the events took place.

These Famine sites in Skibbereen still poignantly resonate today and you can learn about them virtually via videos and blogs by clicking on the map below (or download our app).

Contact Us Skibbereen Heritage Centre. Old Gasworks Building Upper Bridge Street Skibbereen West Cork Ireland P81 WK06 Tel: (353) 28 40900 Fax: (353) 28 40957 Email: [email protected]

Stories about evictions, emigration, disease and death reveal, in microcosm, the appalling consequences of the Great Irish Potato Famine.

This essay will look at the catastrophe as it progressed and examine some of the factors that led to Skibbereen’s prominence in Famine reports. It will also question whether this notoriety contributed to more extensive relief measures in the Skibbereen Poor Law Union, and prompted more aid to Ireland generally.

The Famine When the potato crop failed in Ireland in 1845 causing immediate terror for the three million people who depended on it for their survival, the burden for providing for people was put on the Poor Law system which was never intended to cope with a full-blown Famine emergency.

Listen to the voices of the era as they guide you around the sites in Skibbereen that have direct links to the Great Hunger. Experience the tragedy in the places where the stories unfolded and hear directly from the people who experienced it in West Cork.