James's Fort

James's Fort sits on the Castlepark peninsula with five sides and stone walls that overlook Kinsale harbor's entrance. The structure was built to control shipping access to the port and its walls remain visible from many angles across the site.

The fort was built in 1607 under King James I of England to protect the harbor entrance. It suffered heavy damage in 1690 from a gunpowder explosion when Williamite forces took control of the area.

The site reveals how military builders worked in the early 1600s and what methods they used to protect Ireland's coast. Walking through it, you can see the engineering choices they made and how the structure fits into the landscape.

The fort is free to visit year-round with no entrance fees or reservations needed. A walking path leads about 3 kilometers from Kinsale town center down to the peninsula where the ruins stand.

The fort contains a hexagonal blockhouse positioned at water level at the narrowest point of the harbor channel. This placement allowed defenders to monitor and control any ships attempting to enter the port.