The Skibbereen Heritage Centre is located in the award winning, beautifully restored Old Gasworks Building, in Skibbereen, one of West Cork's most picturesque towns
The Heritage Centre consists of two themes.
The Great Famine Commemoration Exhibition commemorates the tragic period in the 1840s that is known in Irish History as the Great Hunger. Skibbereen was one of the worst affected areas, and the events of the era are depicted using local characters and events.
The Lough Hyne Visitor Centre explains the unique nature of this salt water marine lake, Ireland's first Marine Nature Reserve.
Other features include an archaeology trail of the Skibbereen area, displays on the Old Gasworks Building and information on the species living on the River Ilen. The 1901 Census is also available in printed form for Skibbereen town and district. Escorted evening Historical Walking Tours of Skibbereen town on Tuesday and Saturday at 6.30pm from the Centre. Please telephone to guarantee a place.
Genealogy
The 1901 Census is also available in printed form for Skibbereen town and district
Roman Catholic Church Records
Skibbereen Heritage Centre has undertaken to computerise the Baptismal and Marriage records for Skibbereen, Rath and the Islands R.C. Church records. The project is a major undertaking and without specific funding, will take a considerable period. However, in the intervening period, the Centre can access these records to answer genealogy queries for a fee which will be used to fund this project.
The local records start with Baptismal records from 1814 and Marriage records from 1837 and cover the greater Skibbereen, Baltimore and the Islands area.
The Centre also holds the Baptismal records for the parishes of Drinagh and Drimoleague and can also answer queries relating to these parishes. The marriage records should follow in the future.
The Drinagh/Drimoleague Baptismal records cover the period from 1817 onwards, with a few from the year 1800 additionally
To make a query please provide the following information and we will respond as soon as possible with information and fees:
* NAME ANCESTOR (INCLUDING PET NAME)
* DATE OF BIRTH IF KNOWN OR ANY KNOWN DATE, E.G. EMIGRATION
* ANY NAMES OF SIBLINGS OR PARENTS
* AREA FROM, IF KNOWN
* ANY OTHER INFORMATION KNOWN.
In person enquiries are also possible by appointment. Please ring or mail in advance as it is not always possible to accommodate a query at short notice.
We can also follow up by checking the census records, Griffith's Valuation, Tithe Applotments and local directories. We also have access to a degree of local knowledge to extend a search as far as possible.
