Search results
Skibbereen (/ ˌ s k ɪ b ə ˈ r iː n /; Irish: An Sciobairín) [2] is a town in County Cork, Ireland. It is located in West Cork on the N71 national secondary road . The River Ilen runs through the town; it reaches the sea about 12 kilometres away, at the seaside village of Baltimore .
- Some Quick Need-To-Knows About Skibbereen
- A Brief History of Skibbereen in Cork
- Things to See and Do in Skibbereen
- Where to Stay in Skibbereen
- Skibbereen Restaurants
- Skibbereen Pubs
- FAQs About Visiting Skibbereen in West Cork
Although a visit to Skibbereen in West Cork is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.
Before 1600, most of the land around Skibbereen belonged to the MacCarthy Reagh dynasty. However, the town saw an influx of people fleeing the Sack of Baltimore in 1631. As mentioned above, the Great Famine reduced the town’s population from 58, 335 in 1841 to 32, 412 by 1861 and was a particularly dark time in the town’s history. In the 19th centu...
There’s a handful of things to do in Skibbereen and hundredsof things to do a short spin away from the village. Both of the above combined make Skibbereen in Cork a great base for a road trip! Here are some of our favourite things to do in Skibbereen.
If you fancy staying in Skibbereen in Cork, you’re spoiled for choice for places to rest your head, with something to suit most budgets. Note: if you book a stay through one of the links below we may make a tiny commission that helps us keep this site going. You won’t pay extra, but we really do appreciate it.
Skibbereen has plenty of places to grab a bite to eat. The town is known for its good food and drinks, with many prioritising locally sourced produce. A long-time favourite is Church Restaurant, located inside an old Methodist Church in the heart of town. The interior still retains its stained-glass windows and high ceilings, and you can find high ...
If you’re looking more for a pub for a pint and bite to eat, then Skibbereen has plenty to choose from. The Corner Bar, Tanyard and Kearney’s Well are our regular go-to options. All located right in the middle of town, if you’re after a classic Irish pub experience these three are the best.
Since mentioning the town in a guide to West Cork that we published several years ago, we’ve had hundreds of emails asking various things about Skibbereen in West Cork. In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.
Skibbereen located on the bank of the River Ilen is the ‘hub’ of West Cork, it is the ideal base from which to discover the choice of beautiful fishing villages – all within 10-15 minutes drive.
- coffeeandbooks. 10 contributions. Mid week trip to skibbereen. I was very surprised at how great this tour was. I learned all about the famine. It is heartbreaking to learn about and then you get to learn all about the animals of lough hyne .
- Jim D. Kinsale, Ireland 251 contributions. Nature's light show. Lough Hyne is worth a visit based purely on it's location, natural beauty and watersport options.
- Alison L. 12 contributions. Lovely. A lovely unspoiled quiet place. Perfect. This is not a place for group visits or coach trips. A short trip to contemplate and admire the location.
- Thomas Lonergan. Clonmel, Ireland 34 contributions. Lovely Stay. Went for a week, great place to have an adventure around. Great beaches and amazing walks. Pizzheiria on the island is a great place for a bit to eat.
Skibbereen is located in the heart of West Cork and is an ideal base from which to discover the many delights that the area has to offer. This bustling market town has so much to offer including world class food, unique shops, live music and all only 5 kms from the nearest beach.
Things to Do in Skibbereen, Ireland: See Tripadvisor's 7,267 traveller reviews and photos of Skibbereen tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in October. We have reviews of the best places to see in Skibbereen. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions.
Follow The Skibbereen Trail, a walking tour of Skibbereen town which incorporates sites relating to the Great Famine. Skibbereen Heritage Centre offers audio visual presentations on Lough Hyne, a local marine lake which is Ireland’s first Marine Nature Reserve.
