Hegarty’s of The Laurels tells the story of how a family home played a crucial role in Ireland’s independence struggle . The Laurels was a the tranquil homestead and the centre of a thriving market gardening business.

With the outbreak of the War of Independence however, the Hegarty homestead was transformed into a nucleus of subversive activity; a safe house, bomb, landmine factory, and ammunition dump. It  also became one of Corks No1 Brigade base for both the Volunteers and Cumann na mBan meeting place for intelligence gathering.

It was the home of three of the Brigades officers John Joe ,Mamie and Nan all with the consent of their parents Patrick and Elizabeth. The collection also includes stories and artefacts of that period of our history and that of their descendants.