Bandon History
bringing the past to life
We are still planning our Walks and Talks series for 2025 but here is the programme from last year to give you an idea of what to expect.
Walks and Talks 2024
Biodiversity of Stone walls
Saturday 17th August
3:00 p.m
Bandon Library
Join Marcus Collier, Professor of Natural Sciences at Trinity College, Dublin, as he discusses the biodiversity of Stone walls.
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Weather permitting, this talk will be followed by a guided talk around the Walls of Bandon.
Email: bandon.beag@gmail.com to book a space
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Organised by BEAG
Take me to the River
Sunday 18th August
2-4 p.m
What lives in our river - in association with Wise Water Academy.
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Come along for a family day kick sampling, examining the microinvertebrates that live in our river and more.
Ring: 0867325680 to book a space
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Organised by Creative Bandon
A history of the Jeffers in Bandon
Monday 19th August
8:00 p.m
Bandon Town Hall
Isla Jeffers gives an overview of the Jeffers' family in Bandon. From 1855 to the present day, they have been one Bandon's longest running employers, including a bakery and West Cork's first supermarket.
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No booking required
A guided tour of St. Peter's Church
Tuesday 20th August
7:30 p.m
Meet at door of St. Peter's Church
Join Andrew Coleman on a walk through the history of St. Peters Church - highlighting the history of Bandon within the walls.
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No booking required
Conserving Bandon's Walls
Wednesday 21st August
2:00 pm
St. Peter's
Join James Byrne lead archaeologist on our Heritage Council IWTN funded Conservation project to assess and implement emergency works on Bandon's historic town walls bordering the grounds of St. Peter's.
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The Bernards of Bandon
Wednesday 21st August
8:00 p.m
Bandon Town Hall
Catherine Fitzmaurice and John Desmond give an overview of the history of the Bernard family of Castle Bernard and their connection to the town.
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No booking required
Distilling from history from the Midleton Archive
Thursday 22nd August
8:00 p.m
Bandon Town Hall
Join Carol Quinn, head of Archives at Irish Distillers on a deep dive through the origins of the modern Irish Whiskey Industry.
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No booking required
Family History Talk
Saturday 24th August
2:30 p.m
Bandon Library
Are you interested in tracing your family tree?
Staff from Local Studies Library will be in Bandon Library on on Friday 23rd August from 2:30 p.m. to explain how you might bring your family history project to life.
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No booking required
Cures of Ireland
Friday 23rd August
8:00 p.m
Bandon Town Hall
It's said that almost everyone in Ireland, particularly in rural communities, will know of someone with a ‘cure'. It might be for the mumps, a stye in the eye, or a sprain. Indeed the author of Cures of Ireland, Cecily Gilligan was herself cured of jaundice and ringworm by a ‘seventh son' in her local Sligo during her childhood.
Cecily Gilligan has been researching the rich world of Irish folk cures for almost forty years and, given the tradition has largely been an oral one, has been interviewing a broad range of people from around the country who possess these mystical cures, and those who have benefited from their gifts. One has a cure for eczema that comprises herbal butter balls, another ‘buys' warts from the sufferer with safety pins. There are stories of clay from graves with precious healing properties and pieces of cords from potato bags being sent across the world to treat asthma.
While the Ireland of the twenty-first century continues to develop at lightning speed, there is something deeply comforting and reassuring in the fact that these ancient healing traditions, while fewer in number, do survive to this day. Cures of Ireland is an exquisite book that will be treasured by many generations to come.
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No booking required
Footsteps in the past: a walk around Walled Bandon Town
Saturday 24h August
4:30pm
Meeting point: Gate of St Peter's Church
Join local historian Claire McCutcheon for a stroll around key historic points of Bandon for a convivial chat as we explore the nuances of the heritage around us. From the original bridge to murdered masons and buried horses - Bandon has many stories waiting to be heard!
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No booking required
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