Skibbereen, sometimes called the Capital of the Carberies, is the local market town, 11 km (7 miles) from Baltimore. The Irish An Sciobairín means ‘harbour for small boats’ and the town lies at the head of the tidal waters of the Ilen river which flows to the sea near Baltimore. Skibbereen is the main shopping centre for this part of West Cork and there are several large supermarkets as well as smaller shops, boutiques and cafés lining the streets of brightly painted houses.

Skibbereen Heritage Centre houses a permanent exhibition about the Great Famine of the mid-nineteenth century and Ireland’s first marine nature reserve, Lough Hyne near Baltimore. Another year-round attraction is the Saturday morning farmers’ market where artisan food-producers and local craftspeople come togther to sell their wares.