Kinsale and Youghal to welcome 2,000 cruise passengers this summer

Cork County Council has said that early-season cruise calls to Kinsale and Youghal have set the tone for a “vibrant year of luxury cruise tourism” across Cork.

The 2026 cruise season is expected to welcome 2,000 passengers to Kinsale and Youghal areas, with eight luxury cruise-ship calls scheduled between May and September.

The arrival of the Le Tyrial and Le Bellot ships in Kinsale Harbour this week kicked off the season, with the Le Tyrial travelling on to Youghal Harbour.

The Mayor of County Cork Mary Linehan Foley said she is “delighted to see the cruise season kick off so successfully”.

“Cruise tourism continues to support sustainable economic growth across Cork,” said Ms Linehan Foley.

Four further cruise liners — the L’Austral, Le Champlain, SH Diana, and the Europa, the latter one of the world’s most prestigious ships — are expected to visit Kinsale Harbour in 2026.