History of Kinsale Kinsale has been a centre of population, trade and fishing for centuries. The combined attractions of a sheltered harbour, fertile land and abundant fisheries were not lost on the invading Anglo-Normans who in the 13th Century displaced the local Irish to establish control and create a medieval walled town on the shoreline. They forged trade links with England and Europe and became prominent in the wine trade. By the time Kinsale was granted it’s royal charter in 1333, it was already a thriving town and port. The famous ‘Battle of Kinsale’ in 1601 saw the area become the cockpit of Europe with the armies of England, Spain and the Northern Irish Chieftains in contention. It was a turning point in Irish history as the Irish forces and their Spanish allies were defeated and the result effectively, was the decline of the old Gaelic way of life in Ireland with the breakdown of the power of the Chieftans and Clans. Though victorious, England was alarmed by the successful landing of the Spanish on their western flank and this led to the building of James Fort and later Charles Fort at the mouth of the harbour. Following the establishment of the Forts, Kinsale remained a garrison town and port of consequence for over 300 years, leaving a legacy of Georgian and Victorian architecture. In the 17th and 18th centuries Kinsale was also an important naval base and ships were built here using timbers from the surrounding oak forests. But from the beginning of the 20th century, Kinsale’s economy declined and many of the it’s fine houses and buildings became derelict. However all was not lost – the story of the transformation of Kinsale from a rundown and jaded town, into a charming and prosperous one is a story of foresight, co-operation, but above all civic determination that began in the 1960’s and continues today. The establishment of the ‘Good Food Circle’ - a co-operation started between just two restaurants and which grew to include over a dozen quality eateries - put Kinsale on the map. Their annual ‘Gourmet Festival’ in October is a must for food lovers. Following the success of the restaurants, came the revival of Kinsale’s history in the arts and crafts guilds. Pottery, silver, gold, candles, glassware are all manufactured in the town, while the other artistic fields of sculpture, painting in all mediums, ceramics and photography are well represented by inspired local artists. Each July Kinsale hosts the biggest Arts Festival in West Cork - one of the highlights on the Cork Summer Calendar. Quality accommodation, lively pubs and the growing choice of leisure activities particularly yachting, deep-sea angling and later golf added to the attractions of Kinsale and cemented its place as a primary tourist destination and a sought-after place in which to work and live. The town is still evolving and even in these more challenging times Kinsale continues to corner a niche as a culinary centre with second-to-none attractions. Kinsale at Your Leisure... One of the simplest pleasures of any visit to Kinsale is to wander its narrow winding streets and absorb the colours, aromas and bustling life of the town. Inhale the richness and flavours of blackboard menus enticing you in to savour local delicacies and international flavours. Browse the many shops and galleries or immerse yourself in the town’s history. There is a signposted tourist trail or take one of the local guided walking tours (daily from the tourist office). Pubs, Wine Bars and Cafés – they abound! They often provide their own brand of menu, along of course with colour, warmth and the Irish phenomenon called ‘craic’! Music, dancing or quiet cheer, all within walking distance of the town centre. Many reflect the historic nature of the town and all have a story to tell…Sample the warm hospitality of quality hotels, welcoming guesthouses and award- winning restaurants and pubs. The town organises many festival and events; you’ll find details of these along with regular music & events listings on www.kinsale.ie. Take a trip to the Old Head of Kinsale for magnificent cliff scenery. It was close to here that the Lusitania was sunk in 1915 with a loss of over 1,500 lives. There are two blue flag beaches at nearby Garrettstown. Kinsale for Business...‘Work...Play...Eat...Stay’! Kinsale can offer it all – meeting rooms to accommodate up to 350 delegates, state of the art facilites, award-winning food and an amazing choice of activities and entertainment options all in one town. The town has hosted many international meetings; some that return year after year. For Special Occasions... Your choice of excellent venues including top hotels, a private estate and plenty of gourmet restaurants and cosy private rooms - all poised to host your most memorable occasion. You can avail of the advice and services of boutiques, milliners, jewellers, beauticians, photographers, printers and florists all within walking distance. Transport and entertainment too can all be arranged within Kinsale. Kinsale If calling outside of Rep of Ireland Prefix +353 Stay Actons Hotel & Leisure www.actonshotelkinsale.com (0)21 477 9900 Ballinacurra House www.ballinacurra.com (0)21 477 9040 Barleyview Kinsale www.barleyviewkinsale.com (0)87 278 3860 Blindgate House www.blindgatehouse.com (0)21 477 7858 Blue Haven Hotel www.bluehavenkinsale.com (0)21 477 2209 Bolands Town House (SC) www.bolandkinsale.com (0)21 477 7584 Carlton Hotel www.carltonkinsalehotel.com (0)21 470 6000 Castle Quay Holiday Homes www.castlequay.ie (0)21 477 8222 Danabel B & B www.danabel.com (0)21 477 4087 Desmond House B & B www.desmondhousekinsale.com (0)21 477 3575 Fourwinds B & B www.fourwindsbb.com (0)21 477 4822 Friar’s Lodge www.friars-lodge.com (0)21 477 7384 Garrettstown Caravan Park www.garrettstownhouse.com (0)21 477 8156 Glebe Country House B&B www.glebecountryhouse.ie (0)21 477 8294 Inglenook B & B www.spiders.ie/kinsale (0)1 280 3214 Innishannon House Hotel www.innishannon-hotel.ie (0)21 477 5121 Kinsale Holiday Village www.kinsaleholidayvillage.com (0)86 803 9537 Landfall House B&B www.landfallhouse.com (0)21 477 2575 Newborough Self Catering www.kinsale.ie/newborough (0)86 236 8583 Old Bank Town House www.oldbankhousekinsale.com (0)21 477 4075 Perryville House www.perryvillehouse.com (0)21 477 2731 Rockview B & B www.rockviewbb.com (0)21 477 3162 Scilly House Rentals www.holidayhousesinireland.com (0)21 477 3117 The Old Bank House The Old Presbytery B&B www.oldpres.com (0)21 477 2027 The White House www.whitehouse-kinsale.ie (0)21 477 2125 The White Lady www.whiteladyhotelkinsale.ie (0)21 477 2737 Tierneys Guesthouse www.tierneys-kinsale.com (0)21 477 2205 Trident Hotel www.tridenthotel.com (0)21 477 9300 Woodlands House www.woodlandskinsale.com (0)21 477 2633 Play Atlantic Charters www.atlanticcharters.ie (0)87 257 5269 Ballinadee Pony Trekking www.ballinadeestables.com (0)21 477 8152 Cadilac Cats (Band) (0)87 202 7870 Emma Kate Tobia Soprano www.emmakatetobia.com Heritage Walks of Kinsale www.kinsaleheritage.com (0)21 477 2729 Historic Stroll Old Kinsale www.historicstrollkinsale.com (0)21 477 2873 Kinsale Arts Festival www.kinsaleartsfestival.com (0)21 470 0010 Kinsale Boat Hire www.kinsaleboathire.ie (0)87 174 7585 Kinsale Equestrian Centre www.kinsale-equestrian.ie (0)86 853 0894 Kinsale Ghost Tours www.kinsale.ie/ghost-tour (0)21 477 2240 Kinsale Golf Club www.kinsalegolf.com (0)21 477 4722 Kinsale Harbour Cruises www.kinsaleharbourcruises.com (0)21 477 8946 Kinsale OEC (CCVEC) www.kinsaleoutdoors.com (0)21 477 2896 Kinsale Pottery www.kinsaleceramics.com (0)21 477 7758 Kinsale Yacht Club www.kyc.ie (0)21 477 3343 Old Head Golf Links www.oldhead.com (0)21 477 8444 Oysterhaven Holiday & Activity Ctr www.oysterhaven.com (0)21 477 0738 Pier Leisure Arcade www.kinsalecasino.com (0)21 477 2101 Saile: Kinsale Sports & Com Ctr www.sailesportandleisure.ie (0)21 477 3929 Sovereign Sailing www.sovereignsailing.com (0)21 477 4145 Whale of a Time www.whaleofatime.ie (0)86 328 3250 Eat/Drink Aperitif Wine & Seafood Bar www.aperitifofkinsale.com (0)21 477 3592 Armada Bar www.kinsale.ie/armada-bar (0)21 477 2255 Barretts Butchers (0)21 477 2204 Crackpots Restaurant www.crackpots.ie (0)21 477 2847 Fishy Fishy Restaurant www.fishyfishy.ie (0)21 470 0415 Greyhound Bar www.greyhoundbar.com (0)21 477 2889 Hamlets Cafe Bar www.hamletsofkinsale.com (0)21 477 2939 Haven Shellfish (0)21 477 0664 Hobys Restaurant www.kinsale.ie/hobys (0)21 477 2200 Inhouse Catering www.inhousecatering.ie (0)21 477 2895 Jim Edwards Bar Restaurant www.jimedwardskinsale.com (0)21 477 2541 Man Friday Restaurant www.manfridaykinsale.ie (0)21 477 2260 Max's Restaurant www.maxs.ie (0)21 477 2443 Pisces www.pisceskinsale (0)21 477 7750 Quay Food Company www.quayfood.com (0)21 477 4000 Smith’s SuperValu Foodstore www.supervalu.ie (0)21 477 2843 The Harbour Bar www.kinsale.ie/harbour (0)21 477 2528 The Lord Kingsale www.lordkingsale.com (0)21 477 2371 Toddies Restaurant www.thebulman.ie (0)21 477 7769 Vista Wine Bar www.vistarestaurant.ie (0)21 477 6866 Shop Anna's Gift Gallery www.annasgiftgallery.eu (0)21 477 9157 Bolands Craft Shop www.kinsale.ie/bolandscraftshop (0)21 477 2161 Curtins Electrical (0)21 477 2059 DaisyChain Flowers www.daisychain-kinsale.com (0)21 477 4643 Divine Boutique www.divinegowns.com (0)21 470 0852 Fishy Fishy Shop www.fishyfishy.ie (0)21 477 4453 Giles Norman Photography www.gilesnorman.com (0)21 477 4373 Grannys Bottom Drawer (0)21 477 4839 Hattitude www.hattitude.ie (0)21 477 4821 Jane Boutique www.weddingsbykinsale.ie (0)21 477 4910 J. Cronin & Co Ltd [email protected] (0)21 477 2192 Kinsale Art Gallery www.kinsale-art-gallery.ie (0)21 477 3622 Kinsale Crystal www.kinsalecrystal.ie (0)21 477 4493 Kinsale Pharmacy (Collins) www.kinsalepharmacy.ie (0)21 477 2077 Louise McKeon Artist www.louisemckeon.com (0)21 477 2411 Mary Enright Goldsmith www.maryenright.com (0)21 477 4474 Maurice Murphy Hardware (0)21 477 2257 Moloney's Pharmacy (0)21 477 2130 The Boathouse Gallery www.theboathousegallery.ie (0)21 470 9981 Wild Goose Studio www.wildgoosestudio.com (0)21 477 2622 Write On (0)21 477 4282 Other Services Allied Irish Bank www.aib.ie/personal/home/cork/kinsale (0)21 477 2157 Anns Hair Creations www.kinsale.ie/anns-hair-creations (0)21 477 2030 Arl Design www.arldesign.com (0)21 470 0350 Bank of Ireland www.bankofireland.com (0)21 477 2521 Billy Crosbie www.billiecrosbieproductions.com (0)21 477 2073 Brian Graham Honorary Member (0)21 477 2366 Buttrum & Associates www.baa.ie (0)21 477 2777 Charles Fort - OPW www.heritageireland.ie/en/South-West/CharlesFort/ (0)21 477 2263 Cusack Insurances Kinsale www.scusackinsurance.com (0)21 477 2121 C2 Design www.c2design.ie (0)21 439 8945 DAOL Design & Print Ltd www.daolprint.ie (0)21 477 2558 Desmond Castle - OPW (0)21 477 2263 Elite Dry Cleaners (0)21 477 7345 Finishing Services (0)21 477 3571 Fuzion Communications www.fuzion.ie (0)21 427 1234 George F. Daly & Co Solicitors www.gfdaly.ie (0)21 477 4350 Hegarty Horgan Solicitors www.kinsale.ie/hegarty-horgan-solicitors (0)21 477 2557 Kennedys Opticians www.kennedysopticians.ie (0)21 477 3595 Kinsale Advertiser www.kinsalenews.com (0)21 477 4313 Kinsale Cabs www.kinsalecabs.com (0)21 477 4846 Kinsale Dental Practice www.kinsale.ie/dental-surgery (0)21 477 2788 Kinsale District Credit Union (0)21 477 2955 Kinsale Medical Centre www.medicalcentrekinsale.ie (0)21 477 2253 Kinsale Tourist Office (0)21 477 2234 Kinsale Town Council (0)21 477 2154 John O. Lee Solicitors www.johnolee.com (0)21 477 2136 Magic Vacations Travel Agents www.MagicVacations.ie (0)21 470 0568 Ml Heaney Video Production www.mhvideoproduction.ie (0)23 884 6470 Nelius Buckley Photography www.neliusbuckleyphotography.com (0)21 477 4440 O’Shea Solicitors www.kinsale.ie/oshea-solicitors (0)21 477 4149 P J Fitzgerald Insurances www.pjfitzgeraldinsurance.com (0)21 477 2332 The Surgery www.kinsale.ie/doctors-surgery (0)21 477 2717 Tres Chic Beauty Kinsale www.treschicbeautykinsale.com (0)87 270 9410 Kinsale Chamber of Tourism www.kinsale.ie • (0)21 477 4026 Kinsale Chamber of Tourism Members Kinsale Chamber of Tourism Kinsale, Co. Cork, Ireland Tel: +353 21 477 4026 email: [email protected] or [email protected] www.kinsale.ie By Air miles km Cork Airport 12 20 Shannon Airport 96 154 Dublin Airport 176 293 From other destinations Cork City 18 28 Fota Island 21 34 Cobh via Ferry 20 33 Blarney 24 39 Bantry 51 82 Killarney 63 101 Kenmare 67 108 Dingle 103 167 Limerick 81 130 Galway 146 235 By Ferry miles km Cork Ringaskiddy 16 26 Rosslare 134 216 Dun Laoghaire 181 292 Dublin 176 282 Larne 288 465 GPS Co-ordinates; 51°42′27″N 8°31′50″W Historic Harbour Town and Gourmet Centre Galway N18 N22 Shannon Limerick Killarney Cork Kinsale Waterford Cork Kinsale Cork Airport Riverstick Belgooly Garrettstown Portlaoise Dublin Dun Laoghaire Belfast Larne N25 R600 R600 N20 N8 N8 N11 N7 N1 A1 Getting to Kinsale... See www.kinsale.ie for more www.kinsale.ie DAOL Design & Print - 086 253 7049