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goCharles Fort (Irish: Dún Chathail) is a trace italien fortification, a bastion fort with one section of the outer wall built in star fashion. It is located on the water's edge, at the southern end of the village of Summer Cove, on Kinsale harbour, County Cork, Ireland.[1] First completed in 1682, Charles Fort was sometimes historically referred to as the "new fort" - to contrast with James' Fort (the "old fort") which had been built on the other side of Kinsale harbour before 1607.[2] The fort is now operated as a heritage tourism site by the Heritage Ireland arm of the Office of Public Works.

Charles Fort was built on the site of the ruins of an earlier stronghold known as Barry Óg Castle, at Rincurran. The Ringcurran defences had featured prominently during the Siege of Kinsale in 1601.

The new fort, which is named after Charles II, was designed by the Surveyor-general Sir William Robinson - architect of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham.Additional site structures are attributed to engineer Captain Thomas Philips. The fort was built between 1677 and 1682 to a design which included elements similar to star fortifications; a layout specifically designed to resist attack by cannon. It became known as the "new fort" - to contrast with James' Fort (the "old fort") which had been built on the other side of Kinsale harbour between 1602 and 1607.


Seaward embrasures and lighthouse of Charles Fort
An early lighthouse was established here in the 17th century by Robert Reading,and additional works (including the development of internal "citadel" defences) were added through the 18th and 19th centuries.

The fort remained in use as a British Army barracks for two hundred years afterwards, before being relinquished by British forces following the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921. The fort fell out of use after being burned by retreating anti-Treaty forces during the Irish Civil War in 1922.

Architecture Edit
Charles Fort is an example of a pentagonally bastioned fort. The five bastions are named, in turn, the "Kinsale" (also known as the "Devil's"), the "Charles", the "Cockpit", the "Flagstaff" and
the "North".The "Kinsale" and the "Charles" - the seaward bastions - are more substantial than the other three, as it was expected that the fort would be attacked from sea.

With a focus on seaward defence, the landward and inland bastions of the fort are overlooked by higher ground. This weakness was of critical importance when the fort was subject to a 13-day siege in 1690 during the Williamite War in Ireland.John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (then 1st Earl) besieged Cork and captured Kinsale and its forts.Repairs were made following the siege.

Kinsale is a traditional commercial port with a long history. It has a splendid, virtually land locked natural harbour on the estuary of the Bandon River, 11 nautical miles South West of Cork harbour entrance about eight kilometres north-northeast of the Old Head of Kinsale. Both the outer and inner harbours cover approximately five square kilometres, providing good shelter and anchorage.

As a commercial port, Kinsale caters for approximately 100 vessels per year. The majority of commercial shipping in involved in the importation of bulk animal foods. We are also engaged in the exportation of timber to the U.K. As a pleasure port, Kinsale boasts two fully serviced Marinas and is also home to a thriving fishing fleet
The Wild Atlantic Way (Irish: Slí an Atlantaigh Fhiáin) is a tourism trail on the west coast, and on parts of the north and south coasts, of Ireland. The 2,500 km[1] (1,553 mile) driving route passes through nine counties and three provinces, stretching from County Donegal's Inishowen Peninsula in Ulster to Kinsale, County Cork, in Munster, on the Celtic Sea coast.
Along the route there are 157 discovery points, 1,000 attractions and more than 2,500 activities. The route was officially launched in 2014 by Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring

Places of interest Cork and Kerry Wild Atlantic Way

Allihies Copper Mine Museum on the Beara Peninsula
Bere Island
Cape Clear
Caherdaniel
Derrynane beach
Garnish Island in Glengarriff
The ruined cottages of Great Blasket Island and Blasket Centre in Dunquin
Dingle, Ireland’s largest Gaeltacht town
Rossbeigh beach
The Skellig Experience Visitor Centre
Dursey Island - Accessible by Ireland’s only cable car - is one of 7 inhabited West Cork islands and is located at the end of the Beara Peninsula
Heir Island
Long Island
Sheep's Head - One of the European Destinations of Excellence for sustainable tourism, the Sheep's Head peninsula is home to the Sheep's Head Way walking and cycling routes.
Mizen Head - Ireland's southernmost point, with views of Fastnet Rock and Lighthouse
Kinsale
Whiddy Island and Whiddy Island view on R572 road