Skibbereen is a town in County Cork, Ireland. It is located in West Cork on the N71national secondary road. The name “Skibbereen” (sometimes shortened to “Skibb”) means “little boat harbour”. The River Ilen runs through the town; it reaches the sea about 12 kilometers away, at the seaside village of Baltimore. As of the Census of Ireland 2011, the population of the town (not including the rural hinterland) was 2,568. Skibbereen is in the Cork South-West (Dáil Éireann) constituency, which has three seats.

Culture and leisure

Arts Festival

The Skibbereen Arts Festival occurs annually, taking place at the end of July and including community based projects as well as a mix of national and international films, theatre, visual art and music acts.

Agricultural Festival

The Carbery Show takes place on the third Thursday of July each year.^{[citation needed]} The show includes agricultural, horticultural, livestock, craft and other competitions, as well as a pet show, and trade exhibition. The first Carbery Show took place in 1836.

Music

A number of different music events are held each year, with several bars and venues in town (including “Baby Hannah’s”) hosting musical acts. Skibbereen has also hosted the Cork X Southwest Music & Arts Festival over several years. The 2011 festival was held at Liss Ard Estate and featured Patti Smith, Echo & the Bunnymen, Balkan Beat Box, Fred and others across a two-day lineup.

Beaches

Just outside Skibbereen is Tragumna beach, and the town’s location near the coast means that sea fishing, scuba diving, sailing, and kayaking are possible locally.