Paintings Return to Skibbereen Roots

Cork News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jun 26, 2026 · 1m

Three ancestral paintings, once lost to time and distance, have returned to Ireland thanks to the legacy of Elizabeth Vetell—whose passing in 2025 didn’t stop her wish from coming true. Her cousin ensured the artworks, including a striking portrait of Hugh Lawton—a local legend from the 1700s with ties to Eton, Oxford, and folklore—reached the Skibbereen Historical Society. Two other pieces, believed to depict Hugh’s uncle and a ship tied to his family’s maritime history, now rest safely in their homeland. The society plans to unveil them at a Heritage Week event this August, marking a…