WEST CORK HISTORY FESTIVAL
FIELD TRIPS AND WALKING TOUR 2018
DAY 1: THURSDAY, AUGUST 16
This field trip will take you from the Bronze Age (stone circle, rock art, solar alignments),
through the Medieval (stone fort, tower house) up to more recent history (Harry Clarke and
the Somervilles and Townshends, ecclesiastical history). It’s a taster, but with enough detail
to satisfy the avid historian. This is a full day, fully guided tour with stunning scenery,
knowledgeable local archaeologists and historians as guides and exclusive access to
private property.
Field Trip 1: History and Archaeology of West Cork
Early Bird: €45.00 per person
Regular Price: $50 per person
Max: 14 participants
10:00 Meet Bus at Skibbereen Market Grounds
Knockdrum Stone Fort and Rock Art, Castletownshend, St Barrahane’s, Harry Clarke
Windows, Somervilles and Townsends
12:20
Lunch Break (lunch is available at the Eat at the Castle. Range of options and prices. You
are welcome to bring a picnic if you prefer.)
1:00 Castletownshend Castle Tour
2:00 Depart for
Drombeg Stone Circle, Burgatia Boulder Burial, Castle Salem (Via Coppinger’s Court)
4:30 Tour ends, Skibbereen Market Grounds
Please wear shoes/boots suitable for a field trip - expect some rough ground and mud. Note that
Knockdrum Fort is accessed via a green road and a set of steep steps and that other venues
require the ascent of steps. The field trip will go ahead no matter the weather, so please dress
accordingly. No wheelchair access. No dogs allowed. Itinerary may be subject to change if
circumstances require.
Walking Tour 1: Walking Tour of Historic Skibbereen
Free, but booking essential
Max: 15 participants
Our guide is Philip O’Regan from the Skibbereen Heritage Centre. Philip’s walking tours of
Skibbereen are very popular, taking in key sites associated with the Famine, the Fenians, and the
development of Skibbereen from the earliest days. Tour takes approximately an hour and a half
7:00 PM Meet at the Skibbereen Courthouse, North Street.
DAY 2: FRIDAY, AUGUST 17TH
Field Trip 2 and 3, both offered on the same day, are identical except for the timings.
While the focus of these field trips is the Famine, they provide an unprecedented
opportunity to experience a major art exhibition from the United Stares (to be shown in
Ireland in only three locations), special access to a stunning and thought-provoking
sculpture garden, and a visit to one of the most moving Famine sites in West Cork. This is a
unique, full day, fully guided guided tour.
Field Trip 2: Famine/History/Art Focus
Early Bird: €45.00 per person
Regular Price: $50 per person
Price includes tea/coffee at Reen Sculpture Garden
Max: 14 participants
9:00 Meet at Skibbereen Market Grounds. Bus to Reen Sculpture Garden
Personal guided tour by internationally acclaimed artist John Kelly, followed by tea in the
garden.
11:45 Return To Skibbereen
The Abbeystrewery Graveyard Experience: A presentation by the Skibbereen Heritage
Centre
1:15 Lunch Break (Range of options available in Skibbereen, including Kalbo’s At Uillinn)
2:15 Guided Tour of Coming Home: Art and the Great Hunger. The world’s largest collections of
Famine-related art, from Quinnipiac University, on view in Ireland for the first time.
3:45 End of tour, at Uillinn
Please wear shoes/boots suitable for a field trip - expect long grass, rough ground and mud. The
field trip will go ahead no matter the weather, so please dress accordingly. Reen Farm is a private
home and working farm, please stick to the paths and stay with the group. Abbeystrewery
Graveyard is accessed via steps. No wheelchair access, apart from Uillinn. No dogs allowed.
Field Trip 3: Famine/History/Art Focus
Early Bird: €45.00 per person
Regular Price: $50 per person
Price includes tea/coffee/snack at Reen Sculpture Garden
Max: 14 participants
10:45
Meet bus at entrance to Liss Ard Estate (Bus will pick you up at car park just inside the
gate. You can leave your car here.)
Guided Tour of Coming Home: Art and the Great Hunger. The world’s largest collections of
Famine-related art, from Quinnipiac University, on view in Ireland for the first time.
12:30 Lunch Break (Range of options available in Skibbereen, including Kalbo’s At Uillinn)
1:30 Depart by bus for Reen Sculpture Garden,
Personal guided tour by internationally acclaimed artist John Kelly, followed by tea in the
garden.
3:45 Depart Reen Sculpture Garden
The Abbeystrewery Graveyard Experience: A presentation by the Skibbereen Heritage
Centre
5:00 End of tour, at Rosebank (Festival Venue, adjacent to Liss Ard)
Please wear shoes/boots suitable for a field trip - expect long grass, rough ground and mud. The
field trip will go ahead no matter the weather, so please dress accordingly. Reen Farm is a private
home and working farm, please stick to the paths and stay with the group. Abbeystrewery
Graveyard is accessed via steps. No wheelchair access, apart from Uillinn. No dogs allowed.
