20 Attractions to Explore Near Charles Fort

Desmond Castle is on Cork Street in Kinsale County Cork and was built as a custom house by the Earl of Desmond around 1500. It has had a colourful history, ranging from Spanish occupation in 1601 to use as a prison for captured American sailors during the American War of Independence. The castle was also used as a borough jail from 1791 to the onset of the Great Famine when it was used as an auxiliary workhouse tending to the starving populace.

James Fort is an early 17th-century pentagonal bastion fort located on Castlepark peninsula in Kinsale harbour, County Cork, Ireland. Situated downstream from Kinsale on the River Bandon, the fort was built to defend the harbour and seaborne approaches of the town. Following the construction of Charles Fort on the opposite side of the harbour in the late 17th century, James Fort became known as the "old fort" .

Old Head is one of Ireland's most spectacular links courses located on the Old Head of Kinsale that juts out over two miles into the Atlantic Ocean. As one of the most photographed golf courses in the world, Old Head provides an unforgettable links golf experience that is revered the world over and adorns many of the Top 100 Golf Course lists not just in Ireland but Europe and further afield.

The Old Head of Kinsale is a narrow headland that stretches about 4.5 km into the Celtic Sea. The rugged terrain and dramatic views of the striking Old Head lighthouse and golf course offer the perfect opportunity to capture that crucial photo of a Wild Atlantic Way Signature Discovery Point, no matter what the weather.

Fountainstown beach is located on the South Cork coast, west of the entrance to Cork Harbour and on the northern side of Ringabella Bay. The Front Beach is located at the entrance to the village, facing east towards Ringabella, and is the more frequently used. The beach can be pebbly or sandy, depending on the tides. The Back Beach, which also faces east, is located on a promontory in Ringabella Bay and is generally sandy, though the water is shallow.

Timoleague Franciscan friary is located in a village on the bank of the River Argideen overlooking Courtmacsherry Bay. It was built on the site of an earlier church dedicated to St Molaga whose feast was celebrated here until the seventeenth century. The friary at Timoleague is one of the few early Franciscan friaries with substantial standing remains in Ireland. Located in a medieval village in County Cork, it stands on the banks of the Argideen River overlooking Courtmacsherry Bay.

Camden Fort Meagher is a coastal defence fortification close to Crosshaven. Though originally constructed in the 16th century, the current structures of the 45 acre fort date to the 1860s. It remained largely overgrown until 2010 when a group of local volunteers began restoration and development of the fort for heritage and tourism purposes.

Roche’s Point Lighthouse is situated at the entrance to Cork Harbour.The original tower was deemed too small and in 1835 was replaced by the larger present tower which is 49 feet high with a diameter of 12 feet. It is one of Ireland’s most iconic lighthouses and we’d argue that it’s one of the most overlooked of the many Cork attractions.

Haulbowline Island was the location of Ireland's only steelworks which operated on the Island between 1939 and 2001. Waste from the steel production process was deposited on the Spit Bank, a shallow sand spit extending eastwards from the Naval Dockyard, from the early 1960's. The western side of the island is the main naval base and headquarters for the Irish Naval Service, with the eastern side previously used for heavy industry and later redeveloped as a park.

Spike Island is an island of 103 acres in Cork Harbour, Ireland. Originally the site of a monastic settlement, the island is dominated by an 18th-century bastion fort now named Fort Mitchel. The island's strategic location within the harbour meant it was used at times for defence and as a prison. Since the early 21st century the island has been developed as a heritage tourist attraction.

The Cobh Heritage Centre is a museum located in Cobh, County Cork, Ireland. It is attached to Cobh railway station. It has held exhibits on life in Ireland through the 18th and 19th centuries, mass emigration, the Great Famine, on penal transportation to Australia, and on the sinking of the RMS Lusitania. The centre is a tourist destination, including with visitors from cruise ships, which often dock in Cobh. The centre has two onsite gift shops and a café.

Cobh Museum is situated overlooking Cork Harbour. The exhibitions reflect the cultural, social and maritime history of Cobh and the Great Island. Formerly known as Queenstown, Cobh has a long maritime history and is known throughout the world for its association with emigration and was the last port of call for the RMS Titanic.

Sirius Arts Centre is a multi-disciplinary arts organisation in the Cobh-Glanmire municipal district of east Cork. It is housed in a beautiful Italiante building that was designed by Anthony Salvin in 1854 to house the Royal Cork Yacht Club, the oldest in the world. It hosts visual arts exhibitions, music concerts and community engagement events year round.

The Lusitania Memorial is a tribute monument located in the town centre of Cobh, Ireland. It commemorates the 1200 victims of the Lusitania, a ship torpedoed by a submarine in 1915. Now, it is a popular tourist destination, largely because it offers cruises into the edges of the Atlantic Ocean, where passengers can see whales, but also because of its growing reputation in the field of gourmet food.

The Cathedral Church of St Colman, is a single-spire cathedral in Cobh, Ireland. It is a Roman Catholic cathedral and was completed in 1919. Built on Cathedral Place, it overlooks Cork harbour from a prominent position, and is dedicated to Colmán of Cloyne, patron saint of the Diocese of Cloyne. It serves as the cathedral church of the Diocese. Today, the cathedral continues to hold religious services and often hosts recitals featuring choirs from around the world.

Long Island, historically called Inishfada, is an island that lies south of Schull, County Cork, Ireland. It has a permanent population of no more than 10. The island is named for being 4.8 km long and only 0.8 km wide. It is the third largest of Carbery's Hundred Isles at 1.8 km2, after Sherkin Island and Clear Island. The island’s most distinctive landmark is Copper Point lighthouse at its eastern end, marking the entrance to Schull Harbour.

Michael Collins House, Clonakilty is a museum dedicated to Irish patriot and revolutionary hero, Michael Collins. Visit to learn about the “Big Fella” himself, his life story entwined with the history of the fight for Irish independence. The museum is presented in an accessible manner through guided tours, interactive displays, audio visuals, artefacts and more, bringing the history to life for all the family.

Ballincollig Royal Gunpowder Mills was one of three Royal gunpowder mills that manufactured gunpowder for the British Government. Located in Ballincollig near Cork city in Ireland, the powder mills were originally opened in 1794 as a private enterprise, before being taken over by the British Government during the Napoleonic Wars. Though ruined, many of the remaining structures of the mill site are afforded National Monument status.

Fota Wildlife Park in Cork is a special zoo and Ireland’s premier wildlife attraction. Wherever possible the park have chosen animals that thrive in a free-range environment, which allows them to roam free, while mixed with other species and with us human visitors. The park is home to nearly 30 mammal and 50 bird species.