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Charles Fort, Kinsale

Charles Fort (Irish: Dún Chathail) is a bastion fort with one section of the curtain wall built in star fashion. It is located on the water's edge, at the southern end of the village of Summer Cove, on Kinsale harbour, County Cork. Charles Fort was built on the site of an earlier stronghold known as Ringcurran Castle. The Ringcurran defences had featured prominently during the Siege of Kinsale in 1601.

The new fort, which is named after Charles II, was designed by the Surveyor-general Sir William Robinson - architect of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. Additional site structures are attributed to engineer Captain Thomas Philips. The fort was built between 1677 and 1682 to a design which included elements similar to star fortifications; a layout specifically designed to resist attack by cannon. It became known as the "new fort" - to contrast with James' Fort (the "old fort") which had been built on the other side of Kinsale harbour between 1602 and 1607.

An early lighthouse was established here in the 17th century by Robert Reading,] and additional works (including the development of internal "citadel" defences) were added through the 18th and 19th centuries.
The fort remained in use as a British Army barracks for two hundred years afterwards, before being relinquished by British forces following the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921. The fort fell out of use after being burned by retreating the anti-Treaty IRA during the Irish Civil War in 1922.

The complex remained largely derelict for some time, but was named a National Monument of Ireland in 1971.Since then restoration work has been undertaken and the fort is now one of the most popular Office of Public Works sites in the country.
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  • Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    The entrance gate

  • Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    View from near the entrance to the accommodation blocks.

  • Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Artillery at Charles Fort displayed near the Barrack Stores.

  • Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Soldiers' accommodation - this was burned by retreating irregular IRA forces during the Irish Civil War. To the left can be seen the magazine building.

  • Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Soldiers' accommodation - this was burned by retreating irregular IRA forces during the Irish Civil War. To the left can be seen the magazine building.

  • Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Soldiers' accommodation - this was burned by retreating irregular IRA forces during the Irish Civil War. To the left can be seen the magazine building.

  • Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Soldiers' accommodation - this was burned by retreating irregular IRA forces during the Irish Civil War. To the left can be seen the magazine building.

  • Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    The Magazine (left) with soldiers' quarters right.

  • Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Magazine Interior

  • Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Cooperage adjacent to the magazine.

  • Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Cooperage adjacent to the magazine.

  • Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    The Fort Governor's House left and store house right.

  • Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    The Lighthouse which is a feature of the Batttlements of Chales Fort overlooking Kinsale Harbour. The current lighthouse operated by the Commissioners of Irish Lights was constructed in 1929. In 2004 the range of the light was increased on its conversion from gas to electric power.

  • Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Ruins at Charles Fort.

  • Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Ruins at Charles Fort.

  • Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    View through the battlements to Kinsale Harbour

  • Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Conservation work in progress.

  • Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    View towards the lIghthouse and Kinsale Harbour. The flat area below is referred to as the Potato Garden.

  • Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    View from the East Bastion looking into the fort.

  • Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    View from the East Bastion looking into the fort.

  • Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    The South Bastion - the lighthouse can be seen.

  • Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Buildings which comprised the officer's quarters.

  • Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Charles Fort, Kinsale, Eire - May 27, 1998

    Buildings which comprised the officer's quarters.

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