West Cork History Festival

West Cork History Festival Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from West Cork History Festival, Arts and entertainment, Skibbereen, Cork.

The West Cork History Festival aims to be a feast of intellectual delights with a wide variety of topics, speakers and experiences exploring local, national and international dimensions of our fascinating history.

As usual, we had William Casey (Coolim Books) as one of our booksellers this year. William is the man responsible for th...
16/08/2026

As usual, we had William Casey (Coolim Books) as one of our booksellers this year. William is the man responsible for the wonderfully colourised photo of the iconic Maid of Ireland statue in its original position in the Square of Skibbereen as the cover photo of the latest edition of Skibbereen & District Historical Society's journal.

You can get your copy of the journal, along with many other wonderful West Cork historical journals from Coolim Books and other West Cork booksellers. This year's edition is particularly excellent, and it's one of a number of superb West Cork historical journals.

Sin é! That's it for WCHF2026.Thank you to all our speakers for coming and giving such wonderful talks.Thank you to Inis...
09/08/2026

Sin é! That's it for WCHF2026.

Thank you to all our speakers for coming and giving such wonderful talks.

Thank you to Inish Beg and the staff of Inish Beg for being incredible hosts.

Thank you to our patrons and supporters; without you, we couldn't do what we do.

Thank you to our sponsors


's reconciliation fund


But most of all, thank you to you, our attendees. From those who've been to every festival, to those whose first year was this year. Thank you so much for coming, and we'd love to see you again next year!

Oíche mhaith agus go raibh maith agaibh go léir.

A huge, huge thank you to all our volunteers, just some of whom are pictured here. Everyone who put up posters, helped o...
09/08/2026

A huge, huge thank you to all our volunteers, just some of whom are pictured here. Everyone who put up posters, helped out on one or more days on the weekend, took pictures, put out chairs, corralled cars, or just provided support and advice.

Whether you're local or travelled as many of you did, we appreciate you and your help so much.

We couldn't have done it without you!

It's hard to believe that this is the tenth edition of West Cork History Festival.None of it would have happened without...
09/08/2026

It's hard to believe that this is the tenth edition of West Cork History Festival.

None of it would have happened without the tireless and constant efforts of our co-founders, Victoria and Simon Kingston.

We're incredibly grateful to them for their efforts this year and every year, and they've earned a needed rest after another successful weekend!

We closed out this year's festival with Hester Grant and Adam Tomkins in conversation with Myles Dungan about Swift and ...
09/08/2026

We closed out this year's festival with Hester Grant and Adam Tomkins in conversation with Myles Dungan about Swift and Gulliver's Travels, to mark the 300th anniversary of its publication.

The conversation was recorded for broadcast later this year on Myles' RTÉ Radio 1 programme The History Show.

A fantastic end to a fantastic festival!

Thanks to our sponsors
Cork County Council
The Heritage Council
Dept of Foreign Affairs' Reconciliation Fund
Barry's Tea

Adam Tomkins gave us a fantastic and at times humourous talk on Jonathan Swift and the Constitution, with a touch on ins...
09/08/2026

Adam Tomkins gave us a fantastic and at times humourous talk on Jonathan Swift and the Constitution, with a touch on insight on parenting thrown in!

Adam's talk this afternoon was in memory of James Kingston.

Next up, more Swift as both our previous speakers will sit down with Myles Dungan.

Thanks to our sponsors
Cork County Council
The Heritage Council
Dept of Foreign Affairs' Reconciliation Fund
Barry's Tea

has been taking fantastic photos and documenting each and every talk of this year's festival.You'll be able to catch th...
09/08/2026

has been taking fantastic photos and documenting each and every talk of this year's festival.

You'll be able to catch them all on our YouTube channel in the months to come!

Our afternoon session today celebrates 300 years since the publication of Gulliver's Travels.Hester Grant wonderfully to...
09/08/2026

Our afternoon session today celebrates 300 years since the publication of Gulliver's Travels.

Hester Grant wonderfully took us through Jonathan Swift's early career and the journey of writing and publishing that famous text.

Thanks to our sponsors
Cork County Council
The Heritage Council
Dept of Foreign Affairs' Reconciliation Fund
Barry's Tea

Thanks to the guys from for their lighting, visuals, and microphones all through the festival.Speakers and audience mem...
09/08/2026

Thanks to the guys from for their lighting, visuals, and microphones all through the festival.

Speakers and audience members alike have kept the mics running hot across the weekend!

The theme of boundary crossing women was carried right through to lunch. Authors, podcasters, and soon perhaps filmmaker...
09/08/2026

The theme of boundary crossing women was carried right through to lunch.

Authors, podcasters, and soon perhaps filmmakers, Elaine Farrell and Leanne McCormick took us through a fantastic sample of Bad Bridgets.

Our three sessions this morning all illuminated stories of ordinary people throughout history, valuable work which is often overlooked.

We've all earned lunch, we'll see you soon for some Jonathan Swift!

Thanks to our sponsors
Cork County Council
The Heritage Council
Dept of Foreign Affairs' Reconciliation Fund
Barry's Tea

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Skibbereen
Cork

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