Kinsale Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
town in County Cork, Ireland
About Kinsale
Kinsale is a small sheltered harbour in the estuary of the river Bandon. It's popular with amateur sailors and sea-anglers, but is too small for ocean-going ships. But in bygone centuries with small craft, it was well-positioned for trade with France and Spain - and for dodging the attention of English warships patrolling the western Channel. By 1600 the English controlled most of Ireland but the O'Neills of Ulster remained the last Irish opposition. They called for support from the Catholic continent and Spain weighed in. Several naval expeditions were beset by storms but in 1601 they managed to land troops at Kinsale - the wrong end of the country to help the O'Neills. They became bottled up there so the Irish marched south to join them and break the English siege. They were routed in th
Top Attractions in Kinsale
Explore the best things to see and do in Kinsale:
- ★Charles Fort
- ★Cork Jazz Festival
- ★Dermot Ryan's Heritage Town Walk
- ★Desmond Castle
- ★Ghost Tour
- ★Historic Stroll Kinsale
- ★James Fort
- ★Kinsale Angling
Where to Eat in Kinsale
Must-try local food and restaurants:
- 🍴Bastion
- 🍴Bulman Bar & Toddies Restaurant
- 🍴Dino's
- 🍴Fishy Fishy Cafe
- 🍴Jim Edwards
- 🍴Man Friday
Where to Stay in Kinsale
- 🏨Actons Hotel
- 🏨Dempsey's Hostel
- 🏨Friar's Lodge
- 🏨Kinsale Suites
- 🏨The Old Presbytery
- 🏨Trident Hotel
Kinsale Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 11 sections including: