Kinsale
Dempsey’s Hostel
Eastern Road,
Kinsale, Co. Cork
Email: dandempseykinsale@gmail.com
Phone: +353 (0)21 477 2124
When the Celts neared the Irish coast, their long itinerary over, some settled on
the Old Head of Kinsale which became their fortress. Later as they needed a safe
harbour, the town of Kinsale was built and fortified and its narrow streets have
echoed to the tramp of mariners for 1400 years.
The story of Kinsale is evocative of the national and European
struggle. The harbour’s ring of sheltering hills have run red with
blood and gore as men from all over Europe fought hand to
hand and knife to sword, each attacking and counter attacking
in turn.
Living inside the town’s battlements, women and children would often
remain indoors for days, virtual prisoners, as cannon ball from ship and
shore rained down. The 1601 Battle alone lasted from mid-September to
Christmas Day.
A strange sail could mean Pirate or Buccaneer, Man of War or Turk. The
beginning of the end came when a cry went up from France that men were
free, were Equal and were Brethren all.
The Tourist takes up where the military left off. The town is outrageously
pretty, with walks in the surrounding hills, you may hear as many as ten
languages in one day in Kinsale.
At night, if you’re lucky, the ghosts of dead heroes may walk a
little with you and remind you of an age when a man lived by
his eye for the wind and the keenness of his blade!
Welcome to Kinsale
Failte go dtí Cionn tSáile
Charles Fort
Magnificent
fortress,
concentration
camp & torture
centre. The very
name was
enough to strike
terror into
Spanish, French
or Irish
prisoners.
Old Head of Kinsale
By the time sailors
identified the Old Head
of Kinsale it was already
too late.
French Prison
In this notorious
prison up to 600
French navy men
were incarcerated.
54 perished in a
fire on 17th
January 1747.
Kinsale
Refuge for sailors, Heaven for travellers.
