Desmond Castle, Tower house and customs building in Kinsale, Ireland
Desmond Castle is a three-story stone tower house and customs building in Kinsale with storehouses at the back. The structure displays architectural features characteristic of the late medieval period in Ireland.
Maurice Fitzgerald, Earl of Desmond, built this customs house around 1500 after King Henry VII granted his family customs rights. Later it served as a prison and played an important role in Kinsale's maritime history.
The castle houses a wine museum that documents the connections between Ireland and European wine merchants across several centuries. The collection shows how important the wine trade was to the town's development.
The site is accessible through narrow streets in the old town and sits within walking distance of Kinsale Harbor. Visitors should be aware that the building may be closed during conservation work.
In the 18th century, the building served as a naval prison holding French and Spanish prisoners, earning its local name French Prison. This episode connects European military history directly to Kinsale's development.
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