Bastioned fort

The National Monuments Service's description

On the E shore of Kinsale Harbour, facing James Fort (CO112-036---). This bastioned star-shaped fort is about 10 acres in extent. It was built on the site of Ringcurran Castle in 1678-83 and designed by architect William Robinson. It is overlooked landward, a weakness exposed by besieging Williamite forces in 1690 when the garrison surrendered after a 13 day siege. It is an irregular polygon in plan, with three bastions facing inland (Cockpit, Flagstaff and North), and two demi-bastions on shoreline. The bastions are linked by massive masonry ramparts (H c. 14m); along the shoreline outer ramparts form a second tier of gun batteries; Orrery's battery to the S forms a third tier. The outside ramparts to landward have a dry moat, covered way and a sloping glacis of which little survives. Central landward bastion is the largest and once served as the citadel of the fort. Most of the gun embrasures survive though many have been altered or enlarged. The entrance gateway between the Flagstaff and North bastions was erected in the 18th century - the original one was destroyed in the 1690 siege. Bastions and ramparts are basically unchanged since the 17th century; the interior is however much altered as the fort functioned as military barracks throughout the 18th and 19th centuries when officers' quarters, soldiers' quarters, governor's house, guard house etc. were built inside the fort. A 17th-century vaulted magazine and diagonal blast wall survive, as well as part of the inward-facing ramparts of the citadel.

Since 1973 the OPW have carried out repairs; an archaeological excavation took place in 1998 (https://excavations.ie/report/1998/Cork/0003253/), and additional monitoring in 2003 (https://excavations.ie/report/2003/Cork/0009591/). The fort is now a National Monument, open to the public. (Kerrigan 1977-9, 323-8; Gowen 1979, 237-46; Anon 1988)

This is a National Monument in State Guardianship (no. 535)

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 2: East and South Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1994). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Photographs attached:
CO125-007----_01: Aerial view of the fort from N.
CO125-007----_02: View of the interior of the fort from SW.
CO125-007----_03: Interior of fort from S.

Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

References

Kerrigan, P. 1977-9 Charles Fort, Kinsale. The Irish Sword 13, 323-8.

Gowen, M. 1979 Irish artillery fortifications 1550-1700. Unpublished MA thesis, University College, Cork.

Anon. 1988b Visitor's guide: Charles Fort, Kinsale. Dublin. OPW.