Kinsale
"Kinsale - take one spectacular location, season liberally with Norman, Spanish and English influence, add one major battle and let it simmer for 400 years. The result – Ireland’s fine food capital." - Peter Barry
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Even the casual visitor to Kinsale will be captivated by its beautiful setting, with the long waterfront, narrow winding streets and Compass Hill rising sharply behind the town.
It’s not just about food in this medieval town, also designated an Irish Heritage Town. Explore traditional bars, beautiful buildings, narrow streets, shops and galleries and lots of activities on land and sea.
Kinsale owes its unique character to being a garrison town and port of consequence for over 300 years, hence its magnificent Georgian houses and the Dutch influence of its architecture. In the days of sail, it was also the natural landfall for all ships from the continent and the Americas.
The best and most exciting way to get to know any town is to walk around it. This is especially true of Kinsale; a town of small winding streets, not really designed for traffic as we know it today. One can wander independently, take part in a historical walking tour or, for the not so faint hearted, the ghost tour.
The town and its surrounding area boast many small craft shops and traditional craft workers. Classes and workshops can be arranged in a wide variety of crafts. From pottery to photography, silver to art galleries, one can while away a number of hours pottering around the myriad of stores and shops.
Fancy a bite? In Kinsale, how to choose?!
Kinsale is famous for its food. The West Cork coast, with its many small harbours, is known for its bountiful seafood, while the quality of the local meat, vegetables and dairy produce available is second to none. Kinsale has become established as the Gourmet Capital of Ireland with its superb selection of restaurants offering a wide selection of delicacies. The Kinsale Good Food Circle includes 12 member restaurants offering a diversity of cuisine with a guarantee of quality, service, comfort, ambience and fine dining. The Good Food Circle organises a number of events and special offers including Kinsale Gourmet Festival in October, the highlight of the year. Kinsale Good Food Circle vouchers can be purchased for use in any participating restaurant.
What to do?
Kinsale can satisfy any level of interest from the person who prefers to stroll around or to someone who really enjoys being active. There’s sailing and cruising around the harbour and coastline, horseriding and clay pigeon shooting, deep sea angling and surfing on well known beaches such as Garrettstown, just outside Kinsale. The outdoor centres in Kinsale and surrounds can organise other watersport activities. And of course, there’s golf; The Old Head being the most famous of the three golf courses which are in the area. Desmond Castle and International Wine Museum and Charles Fort, one of the largest military forts in the country and a classic example of a 17th century star shaped fort, should be on your ‘list of things to do’. The view of the town and the harbour from the fort is spectacular and, should you decide to walk, the route from the town is lined with pretty buildings, many watering holes and resting spots to tempt any palette.
What’s going on?
There’s always something happening; from the Kinsale Rugby 7s in May, the Arts Festival in July to the Gourmet and Fringe Jazz festivals in October. And there’s the farmer’s market each Tuesday beside the quayside.
How to get there
Kinsale is just 29km directly south of Cork City. There are frequent flights from Dublin to Cork Airport which take less than an hour. Another short twenty five minute drive and you will be in Kinsale. Alternatively there are trains from Dublin to Cork on the hour, every hour and there’s also the newly upgraded Dublin to Cork road which has reduced travelling time by at least 45 minutes.
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