Bantry Historical and Archaeological Society was set up by a small group of enthusiastic local people in 1978. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to these wonderful people for their foresight and commitment to researching local history, folklore and culture of the greater Bantry area.
The Society continues to fulfil its initial remit of informing and researching Bantry and its environs. Our lecture programme has covered many diverse topics while our outings to sites of interest are always well attended and greatly enjoyed. Our museum goes from strength to strength and attracts many hundreds of visitors to browse its rich holdings.
The organisation depends on the goodwill and involvement of the local community and we sincerely hope to see you at some of our future events. We are passionate about our local history and heritage, and, through our talks and outings, are eager to celebrate and share it with locals and visitors alike.
Our Logo
The boat featured in our logo is a representation of a carving found on the northeast face of the Kilnaruane Pillar Stone. This 9th century pillar stone is situated on a hill overlooking Bantry Bay.
Events
Our society organises lectures, outings and other events. Visit our Events page to see upcoming and browse old events, and our Gallery page to see images of previous events
Projects
Since our foundation BH&AS has been involved in numerous local projects. This includes the running of Bantry Museum, the Abbey Graveyard project, the publication of a Journal and other Documents.