Dunmanway's Stories to Come Alive in New Heritage Trail and Open-Air Museum Project

From circus elephants and rugby legends to Winnie-the-Pooh and the Kennedy White House, a new Cork County Council funded project is uncovering the remarkable stories behind a West Cork town.

The colourful history of Dunmanway is being brought to life through an innovative new heritage initiative that will transform the town centre into an interactive open-air museum.

Stories on the Street combines heritage plaques, digital storytelling and walking trails to allow visitors and locals alike to explore some of the town's most fascinating stories using their smartphones.

The project features 12 heritage installations at locations throughout the town, each linked to professionally produced audio content recorded by local schoolchildren for The Time Travellers Guide and by local historians and townspeople for Echoes of the Past. These short podcasts are accessed via QR codes. Beginning at Market Square, the two themed heritage trails guide visitors through centuries of local history, uncovering stories that range from industrial innovations and sporting achievements to circus performers and literary connections.

The initiative has also been designed to reach far beyond Dunmanway's streets. Through an accompanying online platform, members of the diaspora and people with family connections to the town can explore the trails remotely, click on individual heritage plaques and listen to the same audio stories available on site.

The project was delivered by Michelle O'Mahony of OM History Consultant, Patrick Kiely and the team at Flux Learning, and Fraher Media, combining historical research, digital storytelling and innovative technology to bring Dunmanway's heritage to new audiences.

Cllr Bernard Moynihan, Mayor of the County of Cork:

"Stories on the Street is a wonderful example of how local history can be brought to life in an engaging and accessible way. This initiative celebrates the unique character of Dunmanway while creating a lasting resource for residents, visitors and our diaspora across the world. Cork County Council is committed to supporting projects that strengthen our sense of place and showcase the rich heritage that exists in communities throughout the county."

Among the most eye-catching features is a plaque dedicated to John Duffy & Sons Circus, whose winter headquarters were based in Dunmanway from the 1930s to the 1960s.

Located at the site of the former Circus Depot, now Galvin's Circle K Centra Service Station, the trail stop explores the circus family's long-standing relationship with the town, where performers' children attended local schools and forged lifelong friendships. Visitors will also discover the truth behind one of Dunmanway's most enduring local tales: rumours that circus elephants were buried behind the depot. According to project researchers, the story is true.

Another stop at Atkins Hall traces the story of the Atkins family, whose influence stretched from eighteenth century tanning and manufacturing in West Cork to groundbreaking genetic research in the twenty-first century.

The project also highlights some of Dunmanway's most remarkable international connections. A heritage marker at the Parkway Hotel exploring the town's railway history reveals an unexpected link to Larry O'Brien, the influential American political strategist, former Postmaster General and close adviser to President John F. Kennedy, whose family roots can be traced back to the area. O'Brien would later become Commissioner of the NBA, with basketball's championship trophy bearing his name.

Sporting history also features prominently. One plaque celebrates the achievements of GAA legend Sam Maguire alongside the famous Beamish brothers, Charles and George, who attended Dunmanway Model School. Charles Beamish became the first Irish player to score a try against New Zealand in 1935, while both brothers enjoyed distinguished rugby and military careers, earning the nickname "The Flying Beamishes" during the Second World War.

Perhaps the most surprising discovery of all is the town's connection to one of the world's best loved children's books.

A plaque at St Joseph's Burial Ground explores links between Dunmanway and the family of Christopher Robin, the inspiration behind A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh stories. The trail reveals how members of the de Selincourt family, relatives by marriage of Milne, retired to Dunmanway and are buried locally, creating an unlikely connection between West Cork and Hundred Acre Wood.

By combining physical installations with digital technology, Cork County Council hopes the project will encourage people to explore the town in a new way while strengthening appreciation of the area's rich heritage.