scenic viewpoint
Old Head of Kinsale
A slender headland with a lighthouse and clifftop views where the Lusitania sank offshore in 1915.
11 km · about 20 min drive
EuropeIrelandMunster
Kinsale
Munster, Ireland · Europe
About Kinsale
Kinsale is worth a stop: 30 minutes from Carrigaline, 25km from Blarney Castle.
Kinsale is in Munster, Ireland, with about 5,300 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Carrigaline, about 15 km away.
Kinsale ( kin-SAYL; Irish: Cionn tSáile, meaning 'head of the brine') is a historic port and fishing town in County Cork, Ireland. Located approximately 25 km (16 mi) south of Cork City on the southeast coast near the Old Head of Kinsale, it sits at the mouth of the River Bandon, and has a population of 5,991 (as ofRead more
the 2022 census) which increases in the summer when tourism peaks. The town is in a civil parish of the same name.
Kinsale is a holiday destination for both Irish and overseas tourists. The town is known for its restaurants, including the Michelin-starred Bastion restaurant, and holds a number of annual gourmet food festivals.
As a historically strategic port town, Kinsale's notable buildings include Desmond Castle (associated with the Earls of Desmond and also known as the French Prison) of c. 1500, the 17th-century pentagonal bastion fort of James Fort on Castlepark peninsula, and Charles Fort, a partly restored star fort of 1677 in nearby Summercove. Other historic buildings include the Church of St Multose (Church of Ireland) of 1190, St John the Baptist (Catholic) of 1839, and the Market House of c. 1600. Kinsale is in the three-seat Dáil constituency of Cork South-West.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Kinsale?
Within an hour or so of Kinsale: Old Head of Kinsale (11 km), Blarney Castle (25 km), Gougane Barra (56 km).
Are there any good drives near Kinsale?
The nearest famous roads are The Vee, Moll's Gap and Healy Pass.
Where is Kinsale?
Kinsale is in Munster, Ireland, about 15 km from Carrigaline.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 5,281
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Ireland
- Region
- Munster
- Timezone
- Europe/Dublin
- Coordinates
- 51.7075, -8.5306
Tags
Worth the detour from Kinsale
3 notable places within an hour's drive.
castle
Blarney Castle
Medieval stronghold famous for the Blarney Stone, which legend says grants the gift of eloquence to all who kiss it while leaning backwards.
25 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Gougane Barra
A tranquil mountain lake with a tiny island chapel, source of the River Lee in the heart of West Cork.
56 km · about 65 min drive
Driving roads near Kinsale
7 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 100km.
- Right hereOld Head of KinsaleA slender headland with a lighthouse and clifftop views where the Lusitania sank offshore in 1915.
- 73 kmThe VeeV-shaped hairpin pass on the R668 climbing to 610m through the Knockmealdown Gap between Clogheen and Lismore, ablaze with rhododendron in late May. Overlooks Bay Lough and the Golden Vale patchwork below.
- 79 kmLadies ViewA celebrated panorama over the Lakes of Killarney named for Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting who admired it.
Driving in Ireland
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.78/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€2.10/100km
When to drive here
April to October
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