Dúchas Clonakilty Heritage

20/08/2026

Tour of Kilgarriffe Church of Ireland Graveyard! ⛪

As part of Heritage Week join us for a fascinating guided tour of the historic Kilgarriffe Church of Ireland and its adjoining burial ground in Clonakilty!

Expert guide Michael O'Mahony will take us through the ancient site (where a church has stood since 1613!) and chronicle the stories of the families who helped shape the rich heritage of our district.

📅 Date: Thursday, 20 August
🕖 Time: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Assemble at the entrance on Patrick's Hill at 7pm)
📍 Location: Kilgarriffe Church of Ireland, Patrick's Hill, Clonakilty, Co. Cork

19/08/2026

🏛️ Step back in time TONIGHT in Clonakilty as part of Heritage Week! 🕰️

Join local historian, Fachtna McCarthy who will trace the footsteps of Clonakilty's famous characters: Michael Collins, Tadhg an Asna (1798 Leader), Mary Jane Irwin (poet, campaigner and wife of Fenian Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa) and much more.

Founded by Richard Boyle, Earl of Cork, who received a charter for the town from James I in 1613, you will hear stories of the commercial life of Clonakilty’s Linen Hall and Deasy's Brewery and of its rebellions, famines, smuggling and shipwrecks.

📅 When: TONIGHT, 19 August | 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍 Where: Meeting at the Michael Collins Statue, Emmett Square, Clonakilty, Co. Cork

18/08/2026

Taking place tonight! Hope to see you there.

Join us on Tuesday 18th August from 7pm-8pm on a tour of Fernhill Hotel & Estate. Michael O’Neill Jnr will take you on a history talk and a tour of the gardens.

Find out more: https://www.heritageweek.ie/event-listings/tour-of-fernhill-house-and-gardens-clonakilty

16/08/2026

Our member societies have organised a wide range of events for Heritage Week 2026. Download the list of events athttps://westcorkhistory.ie/Heritage-Week-2026.pdf or for full details visit https://westcorkhistory.ie/events/
We hope that you are able to attend and enjoy some of these events.

13/08/2026

Heritage Week 2026 is upon us! We have a fantastic lineup of events hosted by Dúchas Clonakilty Heritage, alongside several other wonderful local activities.

Dúchas Clonakilty Heritage Events
Tour of Fernhill House and Gardens: Tue Aug 18 at 7:00 PM | Fernhill House. https://www.heritageweek.ie/event-listings/tour-of-fernhill-house-and-gardens-clonakilty

Guided Walk of Clonakilty Town: Wed Aug 19 at 7:00 PM | Michael Collins Statue. https://www.heritageweek.ie/event-listings/guided-historical-walk-of-clonakilty-town

Tour of Kilgarriffe Church of Ireland: Thurs Aug 20 at 7:00 PM | Patrick's Hill. https://www.heritageweek.ie/event-listings/tour-of-kilgarriffe-church-of-ireland-graveyard-2

Documentary Screening of Historical Sites near Clonakilty: Fri Aug 21 at 12:30 PM | Clonakilty Library (Registration Required). https://www.heritageweek.ie/event-listings/historical-sites-near-the-town-of-clonakilty-documentary-screening-by-d%C3%BAchas-clonakilty-heritage

Other Wonderful Local Events
The Sound of Irish Heritage: Sat Aug 15, 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Clonakilty Tourist Information Centre. https://www.heritageweek.ie/event-listings/the-sound-of-irish-heritage

Voices in Stewardship (Celebrating West Cork's New Oral Heritage Hubs): Mon Aug 17 at 7:00 PM | Drimoleague Parish Hall. https://www.heritageweek.ie/event-listings/voices-in-stewardship-celebrating-west-corks-new-oral-heritage-hubs

Flax Threads of Time: Tue Aug 18 at 11:00 AM | De Barra's, Clonakilty. https://www.heritageweek.ie/event-listings/flax-threads-of-time

The Babóg Project Documentary - Doll Making Workshop: Wed Aug 19, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM | Clonakilty Library. https://www.heritageweek.ie/event-listings/the-bab%C3%B3g-project-doll-making-workshop

Masters: The Stories Behind the Skills: Wed Aug 19 at 3:00 PM | Ballineen Enniskeane Community Centre (Registration Required). https://www.heritageweek.ie/event-listings/masters-the-stories-behind-the-skills

Flax Lín Clonakilty – Growing a Local Heritage Walk & Flax Demonstration: Thurs Aug 20, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Bennet's Mill Field. https://www.heritageweek.ie/event-listings/flax-l%C3%ADn-clonakilty-growing-a-local-heritage-walk-flax-demonstration-3

Weaving Demonstration with textile artist Louise Deasy: Sat Aug 22, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Clonakilty Tourist Information Office. https://www.heritageweek.ie/event-listings/weaving-demonstration-with-textile-artist-louise-deasy-2

Make sure to check the links for full details and to register where required. We look forward to seeing you there!

16/06/2026

The annual 1798 commemoration of the ‘Battle of the Big Cross’ will take place this Friday June 19th at Asna Square, Clonakilty at 8pm. Widely recognised as the only significant uprising of the United Irishmen in Co. Cork, the battle occurred just north of Shannonvale, about two miles from Clonakilty town on June 19th 1798.

The historical, non-political commemoration, which is organised by Dúchas Clonakilty Heritage, will be dedicated this year to the late Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin, who was instrumental in organising the event each year. Dúchas Vice-Chairman Michael O’Mahony will deliver a short historical account of the battle and a wreath will be laid by the Mayor of Clonakilty Clonakilty Mayoral Council.

All are welcome to attend.

05/05/2026

Timoleague Historical Society is delighted to welcome you to a presentation by William Casey on Thursday May 14th at 8pm in Timoleague Community Hall (eircode P72 F884).

William is an expert on burial grounds and Cillíní or Children's Burial Grounds are a common historical feature in the Irish landscape. Despite this, and the fact that they were used until comparatively recent times, relatively little is understood about them. This illustrated talk will explore various aspects of cillíní, especially those located in West Cork, including Timoleague, Barryroe, Kilbrittain and the surrounding areas. He will examine who was buried in these sites, when they were used, what rituals and traditions were associated with them and how these locations were chosen.

All are welcome and there is a suggested donation of €5 to the society at the door with refreshments served afterwards.

27/04/2026

On Thursday night, we welcome historian Gerald Butler as he presents: "The Sinking of the German U-260 Submarine Off Glandore Harbour During World War 2."

The U–260, which was one of the most modern German submarines during World War 2, sank on the 12th of March 1945. All 48 sailors on board, under Captain Klaus Becker, survived the experience. This talk, which will be delivered by Gerard Butler, will commemorate all those involved, including the local coast watchers at Lookout Post 27 (LOP 27) at Galley Head.

All welcome!

Where: Clonakilty GAA Pavilion, Ahamilla
When: Thursday, April 30th at 8:00 PM
Cover: €5

More information here: https://duchasclonakiltyheritage.ie/News-and-Events/The-Sinking-of-the-German-U-260-Submarine-Off-Glandore-Harbour-During-World-War-2/

10/04/2026

These are the events, organised by our members, occurring next week.