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.
