Skibbereen Heritage Centre

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Diaspora Story Project

Amy Wilde

Joseph Carr of Drogheda and the 1916 Rising

Ronan Crowley

Great gran-uncle a runner for IRA and a scout at the Kilmichael Ambush, became a ‘crack shot’ in the Civil War but never spoke about that time afterwards

Donncha McCarthy

Great grandfather a runner for Michael Collins when he was only 15; great grandmother lived across the road from Béal na Bláth

Viktorija Stonyte

Great grandmother almost died in WW2 as a child when accidentally strayed onto Front; hid in groove from bullets

Rebecca Connolly

Great great grandfather Neilus Connolly; stories of his evading capture, his arrest & imprisonment

Molly Lomasney

Story of US-born Fenian who came to Ireland after serving in American Civil War to take part in Fenian Uprising

Michaela Maguire

Great grandmother brought messages from Leap to Skibbereen on way to school on bicycle

Mary-Elizabeth Deasy

Grandad knew Hayes brothers who ‘plotted’ Collins’ death; story of gold jug as a wedding present

Lucy Bielecki

Great grandfather fought to defend Poland against Bolsheviks; he & 7 brothers executed in woods. Other Great grandfather fought in WW1; suffered effects of Mustard Gas

Lisa O’Driscoll

Cousin & wife on Luisitania when sank; both survived; wife brought to Kinsale & heard husband alive via telegraph

Lilly Heaton-Jones & Jessie Holmes

Great great granduncle delivered messages to safe houses; shot through back mouth in Bantry & died; buried in shallow grave & later moved

Leah Geaney

Description of Skibbereen town in times past; its shops, banks & people