Kinsale

Kinsale (Irish: Cionn tSáile) is a small town in County Cork, Southwest Ireland.

Kinsale is situated in the estuary of the river Bandon, nestling among hills that hide it from the open sea. Because of its location it is an historic port and is still very popular with pleasure sailors and anglers.

Two forts, James Fort and Charles Fort, guard the approach to the sea. The Siege of Kinsale, one of the most significant battles in Irish history, took place here in 1601. It was fought when an Irish army had travelled from Ulster to relieve an English siege on the town that was held by the Spanish and Gaelic Irish. Against the odds the Irish and English besiegers lost the battle, but the siege continued and the Spanish ultimately surrendered weeks later. Many of the Gaelic lords fled to continental Europe, hoping to raise an army and return, but the English consolidated their power preventing a reconquest. This marked the end of the ancient Gaelic social order in Ireland and was also one of the final battles in the Anglo-Spanish war.

In addition to its visual charms, Kinsale has become a home of good food, especially seafood, and holds an annual festival to celebrate.

• Charles Fort, Summercove (Half a mile south of town in Summercove, +353 21 477-2263. This is a 17th century star shaped fort, which is very well preserved and has seen very little military action. 45 minute tours depart every hour, last entry 45 min before closing. Open mid Mar-Oct daily 10:00-18:00, rest of year 10:00-17:00. €5.

• Desmond Castle, Cork St, +353 21 477-4855. Built c. 1500 by the Earl of Desmond as a custom house, this is a well-preserved tower house. The Castle is known locally as the French Prison following a fire in which 54 French prisoners died in 1747. The building was later used as an ancillary workhouse during the Famine. Admission €2.90, covered by Heritage Card, open Apr-Oct daily 10:00-18:00, last entry 17:15, tours given on request, closed Nov-mid Apr.

• James Fort. This is an older fort on the other side of the river and in much poorer condition.

• Kinsale Regional Museum, Market Square, +353 21 477-7930. M-Sa 10:30-17:30, Su 14:00-17:30. An interesting small museum with exhibits on domestic and maritime history, including the ocean liner Lusitania which was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat in World War I (the Great War). €3.50.

Charles Fort, Summercove (Half a mile south of town in Summercove, +353 21 477-2263. This is a 17th century star shaped fort, which is very well preserved and has seen very little military action. 45 minute tours depart every hour, last entry 45 min before closing. Open mid Mar-Oct daily 10:00-18:00, rest of year 10:00-17:00. €5.

Desmond Castle, Cork St, +353 21 477-4855. Built c. 1500 by the Earl of Desmond as a custom house, this is a well-preserved tower house. The Castle is known locally as the French Prison following a fire in which 54 French prisoners died in 1747. The building was later used as an ancillary workhouse during the Famine. Admission €2.90, covered by Heritage Card, open Apr-Oct daily 10:00-18:00, last entry 17:15, tours given on request, closed Nov-mid Apr.

James Fort. This is an older fort on the other side of the river and in much poorer condition.

Kinsale Regional Museum, Market Square, +353 21 477-7930. M-Sa 10:30-17:30, Su 14:00-17:30. An interesting small museum with exhibits on domestic and maritime history, including the [[ocean liner]] Lusitania which was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat in [[World War I]] (the Great War). €3.50.

• Sailing, Blue Flag marina, at Castlepark just outside the town, has public boat ramps and docks. Both crewed cruising yachts and small recreational sailboats are available.
• Kinsale Harbour Cruises, +353 21 477-3188. Adults €12, children under 12 €5, children under 7 free.
• Sea Angling / Whale & Dolphin Watching, +353 87 125-6199. Full day, half day and evening trips for groups large and small.
• Tourist Information Office, Pier Rd (Near the main bus stop at the head of the harbor, +353 21 477-2234. Giving free maps & brochures, open Jul-Aug M-Sa 09:15-19:00, Su 10:00-17:00; Mar-Jun & Sep-Nov M-Sa 09:30-17:30, closed Su; shorter hours Dec-Feb.
• Ghost Tour, Tap Tavern, +353 87 948-0910. May-Sep Su-F 21:00. A slapstick-style horror tour of Kinsale. 90 min. Leaves from the Tap Tavern. Adults €10, children €5.
• Historic Stroll in Old Kinsale, Tourist Office, +353 21 477-2873, +353 87 250-0731. 11:15 daily. An engaging and fun tour of the town's history. Leaves from the Tourist Office. 90 min. €8, Children €1.
• Dermot Ryan's Heritage Town Walk, +353 21 477-2729 or +353 86 826-7656. 10:30. Leaves tourist office daily. Adults €5, children free.
• Kinsale Road Train. Tour Kinsale on the Road Train. Bus stop to Charles Fort.

Sailing, Blue Flag marina, at Castlepark just outside the town, has public boat ramps and docks. Both crewed cruising yachts and small recreational sailboats are available.

Kinsale Harbour Cruises, +353 21 477-3188. Adults €12, children under 12 €5, children under 7 free.

Sea Angling / Whale & Dolphin Watching, +353 87 125-6199. Full day, half day and evening trips for groups large and small.

Tourist Information Office, Pier Rd (Near the main bus stop at the head of the harbor, +353 21 477-2234. Giving free maps & brochures, open Jul-Aug M-Sa 09:15-19:00, Su 10:00-17:00; Mar-Jun & Sep-Nov M-Sa 09:30-17:30, closed Su; shorter hours Dec-Feb.

Ghost Tour, Tap Tavern, +353 87 948-0910. May-Sep Su-F 21:00. A slapstick-style horror tour of Kinsale. 90 min. Leaves from the Tap Tavern. Adults €10, children €5.

Historic Stroll in Old Kinsale, Tourist Office, +353 21 477-2873, +353 87 250-0731. 11:15 daily. An engaging and fun tour of the town's history. Leaves from the Tourist Office. 90 min. €8, Children €1.

Dermot Ryan's Heritage Town Walk, +353 21 477-2729 or +353 86 826-7656. 10:30. Leaves tourist office daily. Adults €5, children free.

Kinsale Road Train. Tour Kinsale on the Road Train. Bus stop to Charles Fort.

• Kinsale Crystal, Market St, +353 21 477-4493. A charming crystal shop specialising in deep cut lead crystal. The founder was originally with Waterford Crystal before setting up Kinsale Crystal. Several items are available for purchase on their website.
• Kinsale Silver, Market St, +353 21 477-4020. Handmade silver jewellery with Celtic themes. The proprietor, Dominic Dolan is very personable.

Kinsale Crystal, Market St, +353 21 477-4493. A charming crystal shop specialising in deep cut lead crystal. The founder was originally with Waterford Crystal before setting up Kinsale Crystal. Several items are available for purchase on their website.

Kinsale Silver, Market St, +353 21 477-4020. Handmade silver jewellery with Celtic themes. The proprietor, Dominic Dolan is very personable.

Kinsale is a gourmet centre with many restaurants for all prices and tastes.

• Man Friday, Scilly, +353 21 477-2260. 19:30-22.30. Famous for its Steaks, Seafood and their Stuffed Duck served in a nice restaurant with a good atmosphere. Range from €20-€35.
• Fishy Fishy Cafe, Pier Rd, +353 21 470-0415. Open daily 12:00-16:30. Big with spacious indoor, balcony and terrace seating. Phone for reservations.
• Cafe Blue, Pearse St (in Blue Haven Hotel. Open daily.
• Mother Hubbard's, Near market square. Open daily. Sandwiches, baguettes, salads & coffee.
• The Little Skillet, 47 Main St, +353 21 477-4202. Romantic atmosphere, Irish music, much fresh vegetables, €20 entrees, €25 3 course early-bird meal before 19:30, open daily 12:00-14:30 & 18:00-22:30.
• Hoby's Restaurant, 5 Main St, +353 21 477-2200. 18:00-22:00. Romantic, quiet, & candlelit, €25 3 course dinners.
• Max' Wine Bar, 48 Main St, +353 21 477-2443. International food, fancy interior & presentation, lunch from 12:30, dinner from 18:30, closed Tuesday, €22 3 course early bird special before 19:30.
• Jim Edward's, Market Quay, +353 21 477-2541. Bar 12:30-22:00, Restaurant 18:00-22:00. A crowded local favorite with €20-30 dinner only meals in romantic area, or €12-19 meals in the bar, steaks, seafood, & vegetables, cheaper than other restaurants.
• Cobra Tandoori, 69 Main St, +353 21 477-7911. 16:30-23:30. One of many ethnic restaurants, this one serves Indian food, €10 plates.
• The Bulman, Summercove (200 yards towards Kinsale from Charles Fort in Hamlet of Summercove, +353 21 477-2131. 12:30-21:30. Seafood & seasonal produce, €10 lunches, €22-26 meals in fancy restaurant upstairs.

Man Friday, Scilly, +353 21 477-2260. 19:30-22.30. Famous for its Steaks, Seafood and their Stuffed Duck served in a nice restaurant with a good atmosphere. Range from €20-€35.

Fishy Fishy Cafe, Pier Rd, +353 21 470-0415. Open daily 12:00-16:30. Big with spacious indoor, balcony and terrace seating. Phone for reservations.

Cafe Blue, Pearse St (in Blue Haven Hotel. Open daily.

Mother Hubbard's, Near market square. Open daily. Sandwiches, baguettes, salads & coffee.

The Little Skillet, 47 Main St, +353 21 477-4202. Romantic atmosphere, Irish music, much fresh vegetables, €20 entrees, €25 3 course early-bird meal before 19:30, open daily 12:00-14:30 & 18:00-22:30.

Hoby's Restaurant, 5 Main St, +353 21 477-2200. 18:00-22:00. Romantic, quiet, & candlelit, €25 3 course dinners.

Max' Wine Bar, 48 Main St, +353 21 477-2443. International food, fancy interior & presentation, lunch from 12:30, dinner from 18:30, closed Tuesday, €22 3 course early bird special before 19:30.

Jim Edward's, Market Quay, +353 21 477-2541. Bar 12:30-22:00, Restaurant 18:00-22:00. A crowded local favorite with €20-30 dinner only meals in romantic area, or €12-19 meals in the bar, steaks, seafood, & vegetables, cheaper than other restaurants.

Cobra Tandoori, 69 Main St, +353 21 477-7911. 16:30-23:30. One of many ethnic restaurants, this one serves Indian food, €10 plates.

The Bulman, Summercove (200 yards towards Kinsale from Charles Fort in Hamlet of Summercove, +353 21 477-2131. 12:30-21:30. Seafood & seasonal produce, €10 lunches, €22-26 meals in fancy restaurant upstairs.

Kinsale's many pubs have a lively atmosphere, all near the center of town:

• The Bulman, Summercove (200 yards towards Kinsale from Charles Fort in Hamlet of Summercove, +353 21 477-2131. Has great music sessions Tu Th Su 21:30, folk session W 21:30, get there a half hour early to ensure a seat.
• Spaniard Inn, +353 21 477-2436. A ten minute walk from town out onto the Scilly Peninsula, music W 21:30, arrive an hour before to ensure a seat.
• The Folk House, +353 21 477-2382. Two real ale pumps. Yes, real ale in Ireland. Usually one available depending on supplier like Hobgoblin or Pride. Howling Gale, Speckled Hen etc. on keg. Music at the weekend.
• The Grey Hound, +353 21 477-2889. A proper old Irish pub established in 1690 with a very mixed crowd from rugby/hurling fans to hippies. Tables outside, umbrellas and heaters for smokers. Usually sport on TV and a good selection of music if not.
• The Tap Tavern. Has music on Thursday nights.

The Bulman, Summercove (200 yards towards Kinsale from Charles Fort in Hamlet of Summercove, +353 21 477-2131. Has great music sessions Tu Th Su 21:30, folk session W 21:30, get there a half hour early to ensure a seat.

Spaniard Inn, +353 21 477-2436. A ten minute walk from town out onto the Scilly Peninsula, music W 21:30, arrive an hour before to ensure a seat.

The Folk House, +353 21 477-2382. Two real ale pumps. Yes, real ale in Ireland. Usually one available depending on supplier like Hobgoblin or Pride. Howling Gale, Speckled Hen etc. on keg. Music at the weekend.

The Grey Hound, +353 21 477-2889. A proper old Irish pub established in 1690 with a very mixed crowd from rugby/hurling fans to hippies. Tables outside, umbrellas and heaters for smokers. Usually sport on TV and a good selection of music if not.

The Tap Tavern. Has music on Thursday nights.

• There are a number of excellent Blue Flag beaches in the area. Both Garretstown and Garrylucas (White Strand) beaches are just over 8km from Kinsale and can be reached by following the R600 to Ballinspittle village. Garretstown beach in particular is renowned for its surf and equipment is available to rent on the beach.
• The charming, but not-as-charming-as-Kinsale town of Cobh is reached by first driving and then taking a poorly signposted ferry to the island it's on, make sure you don't accidentally take the ferry that goes to France instead. It can also be reached by road via Cork city.
• The ever-famous castle at Blarney is also less than an hour away.

There are a number of excellent Blue Flag beaches in the area. Both Garretstown and Garrylucas (White Strand) beaches are just over 8km from Kinsale and can be reached by following the R600 to Ballinspittle village. Garretstown beach in particular is renowned for its surf and equipment is available to rent on the beach.