Originally a medieval fishing port, historic Kinsale is one of the most picturesque, popular and historic towns on the south west coast of Ireland. It has been hailed as the Gourmet Capital of Ireland, with no shortage of cafes, pubs and restaurants to suit every taste and budget.
Only 18 miles from Cork, Kinsale marks the beginning of scenic West Cork and is ideally placed as a yachting and deep-sea angling centre and in recent years a world class golf destination.
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.
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.
However relaxed or active you wish to be on your holiday, Kinsale offers you a world of choice but allows you to take things at your own pace
Kinsale and surrounding area Visitor Attractions:
Kinsale Top Visitor Attractions
- Charles Fort
- Desmond Castle
- Kinsale Museum
- Walk the Sicily Way
- Blue Flag Beaches at Garrestown and Garrylucas
- Inchydoney Beach
- Timoleague Abbey
- Sandycove
