This museum, though small, looks extensively at the causes and effects of the Irish Famine, with particular emphasis on the impacts in the local area. I was surprised at the depth of detail, especially the interlocked causes of the Famine - the museum didn't pander to any simplified explanation, nor did it lay the blame in any particular camp, and did a fantastic job of illustrating the points with interesting examples (written, documentary and through artefacts). The museum also has a very natural flow, which helps direct the visitor, and nicely covers both the background and the aftermath of the Famine years. Unfortunately, the Irish version of the Jeremy Irons video does not actually have Jeremy Irons speaking in Irish, it's merely subtitled. The accompanying Lough Hyne video is definitely worth seeing, especially if you're planning on making a trip down to the lake itself. The staff are friendly, the space is bright and there is a lovely view over the Ilen (spend a couple of minutes on the terrace). When we visited, it was during the easing of the initial lock-down, and, given the restrictions, the museum was very well-equipped for visitors, with disinfectant available at the entrance and beside each interactive exhibit.

The heritage center was a fantastic experience. Immediately on arrival the staff were very friendly and informative giving clear instruction as to how the exhibition was to be best experienced. The audio resources gave some interactivity and prevented losing interest from constant reading. The lighting and display cases were very well designed, the view of the workhouse from one of the windows was very moving and brought great reality to the exhibit which was further developed by the walking trail app which exposes people to the whole town. I hope there is further investment and the heritage centre is allowed develop into different eras of Skibereens history.

This is an amazing place for the history of the famine in Skibereen and Ireland. It answered a lot of questions I had. It is a tough visit in some ways, but the information is so accessible. It’s tough because of the subject matter. The staff were so friendly and helpful. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It’s not suitable for young children. The video of Lough Hyne is interesting but would have liked more detail on the actual flora and fauna rather than those that have researched it.