Charles Fort

Charles Fort is a pentagonal military structure in Kinsale that spreads across roughly eight hectares, featuring five bastions named Kinsale, Charles, Cockpit, Flagstaff, and North. The design allowed defenders to cover every approach from both the water and the surrounding land.

The fort was built in 1682 under King Charles II and endured a fierce thirteen-day assault during the Williamite War in 1690. This event became central to how the region's political fate unfolded in the years that followed.

The fort's pentagonal walls rising from the waterfront create a distinctive silhouette that frames Kinsale Harbor, and locals have walked these ramparts for centuries as part of their connection to the town's maritime identity.

The grounds are straightforward to walk around, and the waterfront offers good viewing points across Kinsale Harbor, especially on clear days. Allow several hours to explore the five bastions, ruins, and cannons scattered throughout the site.

A seventeenth-century lighthouse stands in the eastern section, built by Robert Reading to guide maritime traffic, blending defense with navigation aids. This structure is among the oldest of its kind on the Irish coast.

Location: Kinsale

Inception: 1670

Architects: William Robinson

Website: https://heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/charles-fort-military-fortress

GPS coordinates: 51.69650,-8.49900

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:27