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Kinsale in County Cork is one of the most picturesque,
popular and fashionable resorts of the south-west coast of Ireland. Famous for
its beautiful yachting, sea angling, Dolphin & Whale Watching Trips, gourmet
restaurants and golf.
Kinsale can easily claim its place amongst Ireland's most historic locations for
this has been a centre of population, commerce, trade and fishing far beyond
memory and record. In its earliest days the estuary of the Bandon River gave it
great importance as the river is tidal as far as Innishannon and water transport
was dominant until the 18th Century.
In modern times Kinsale has acquired the title “Gourmet capital of Ireland” -
for its abundance of quality restaurants catering for all tastes.
The estuary also provided excellent anchorage for ancient shipping which went in
peril of the vagaries of the weather.
The Town nestles between the hills and the shoreline, a maze of narrow streets,
never far from the water and little changed in many hundreds of years. Amongst
buildings of later periods are those of another age with historical links to the
French, Spanish, British and Americans.
HISTORY
The town and surrounding area are steeped in history—the most famous event
occurring in 1601.
The Battle of Kinsale, fought in 1601 between a combined Spanish, an Irish force
and English armies, was a turning point in Irish history.
The harbour is guarded by two very fine star-shaped fortresses built in the 17th
century. Charles Fort is well worth a visit (offers guided tours). See also the
old Courthouse, now a museum; St Multose Church, built in the 13th century and
still in use, and the 'French Prison' - the 16th century Desmond Caslte - now a
wine museum. Take a trip too to the Old Head of Kinsale for magnificent cliff
scenery. It was off here that the Lusitania was sunk in 1915 with a loss of over
1,500 lives.
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