I decided to take the bus to Kinsale and see Charles Fort. A star fortification design it gave significant protection to the harbor as it left no dead spots, that is places where the defenders couldn’t cover with fire. It also allowed the defenders to use enfilading fire from the bastions thereby hitting the attackers from more than one angle. The fort was built during the reign of Charles II between 1677 & 1682 and made it nearly impossible for attacking French ships to enter the harbor. Across the harbor are the ruins of the much older James Fort. The weakness of Charles Fort was on the landward side as the focus had been the harbor and the hills overlooked the fort allowing cannon fire to rain down on the fort and in 1690 during the Williamite War in Ireland it was put under a 13 siege by John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough and surrendered thus ending the fort’s only battle.
The town of Kinsale and James Fort
There is a road, The Scilly Road that leads along the shore from the town to the fort. (John Cleese’s Silly walk comes to mind) and from the overlook I took this photo. A car of tourists pulled in and naturally we, I, began a conversation. As Massachusetts came up it turned out that one of the men hails from Mattapoisett where I had my business for many years before moving it to New Bedford. We talked about the Kinsale Inn, people we both knew etc. Unfortunately I didn’t get his surname so I can only hope that he contacts me via the card I gave him to fill in particulars.
The directions to Scilly Road are simple. Aim for the orange pub and continue from there. There are natural considering the views some very nice homes along the way.
And the Bullman is either the first or last pub on the Wild Atlantic Way depending on your route.
Although the guns are long silent the lighthouse still offers protection.
And it’s Christmas season back at the Muskerry Arms Pub!
4.87 miles
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