"Aughadown in Olden Days" Pop-up Museum

Skibbereen does not have a Museum at present and it is possible that we could lose much of our old artifacts if we do not highlight the need for such venue. We in ICA are hoping to highlight the need for such a Museum as other small towns like Bandon, Clonakilty or Bantry where people can visit and donate artifacts of interest from the locality.

College students and school children can use this as a resource for Historical research. We have submissions from children attending the two National Schools of Kilcoe and Lisheen for the week. One school has submitted a collage with ahistory of the Tram which connected Skibbereen to Schull for 70 years until 1954, when it was closed. Another School project was interviews of older people in the locality. A secondary School pupil submitted archaeological details of a Dolmen known locally as An Cloch Mór.

We hope that this Pop-up Museum will enhance our Existing Heritage Centre and support tourism in the town. Can people submit anything of interest to any ICA member or phone 087 9867453.

Aughadown is a large rural parish or DED with a R.C Church and a school in Lisheen and similar in the Kilcoe area. There were two busy Post Offices supported by a general store, now both are closed over 20yrs. Also there were two Pubs & while one is closed over 20 yrs , the other provides social interaction for music nights and Card games.

Another family run shop which supplied provisions including coal to the many islands is also closed.

Bowling was very popular in this area and many have stories of Sunday afternoons "bowling" with sometimes hundreds people observing.
Farming was by small farmers who supported each other at harvest time and some grew Flax in the 1950s.

Fishing on the river Ilen for Salmon and Trout as well as Sea Fishing whereby Fisher men travelled to East Cork during the Herring season to fish and salt or sell their fish.

We hope to catch a glimpse of this rich heritage and keep it for posterity by having this Pop-up Museum