Battle of Kinsale to be recalled through Cork interpretive centre

The Office of Public Works (OPW) is to be asked to create an interpretive centre about the Battle of Kinsale at a castle in the area that is set to undergo significant restoration.

The work is to take place at the historic Desmond Castle, which closed to the public in 2018 as it had sustained serious water damage.

The restoration work, which is expected to get underway later this year, is likely to take a couple of years to complete, and will involve a lot of stonework repairs and the renewal of most if not all of its electrical systems at the castle

Independent councillor Alan Coleman won support from council colleagues at a meeting of the Bandon/Kinsale Municipal District Council when he asked that the local authority engage with the OPW to ensure when the renovations are completed that an interpretative centre be created there.

There is no proper interpretive centre commemorating the historic Battle of Kinsale, which was fought in 1601 between the English and a coalition of Irish and Spanish forces.

Although the Spanish secured the town, they were unable to move out and were besieged by an English force led by Lord Mountjoy.

Vastly outnumbered they were forced to surrender, and it proved to be the last time the Spaniards would provide help in Ireland’s struggle against the English.

Restoration

Mr Coleman said the idea for such a centre should also be made known to local minister Christopher O’Sullivan who was instrumental in getting the OPW to agree to the restoration project.

“Desmond Castle has enormous potential to be a significant heritage attraction in Kinsale.

“Without question it is in everyone’s best interest that the castle is reopened and maximised as a key point of interest, historically and architecturally not just for visitors but also the local community."

He insisted that the county council should work closely with the OPW to ensure this can be realised as soon as possible.

“This is a crucial time for the tourist industry, and we need to have this national monument open to the public. I’m informed that the OPW is seeking to appoint an external conservation architect for the entire repair and refurbishment programme, from preliminary design right through to the final handover,” Mr Coleman said.

It was agreed by municipal district members to raise Mr Coleman’s motion with the county council’s tourism special purposes committee to have the request pushed forward with the OPW.