Desmond Castle
Contact Details
Address: Cork St, Kinsale, Co. Cork.
Telephone No: +353 21 477 4855
Email: desmondcastle@opw.ie
Website:
Opening Hours
1st April - 11th September: Daily 10.00 - 18.00
Last Admission: 1 hour before closing
Average Length of Visit: 45 minutes
Admission Fees
E Adult: €3.00
Sen/Group: €2.00
Child/Student: €1.00
Family: €8.00
Facilities
Self guiding exhibition.
Restaurant/Tearooms: None
Desmond Castle was built by the Earl of Desmond c. 1500. A fine example of an urban tower house, the castle consists of a three storey keep with storehouses to the rear. Originally built as a Customs house, the castle also served as a prison in the 18th century (it is known locally as the French Prison) an ordnance store during the Battle of Kinsale (1601) and as a workhouse during the Great Famine. By the early decades of the 20th Century Desmond castle had fallen into decay. It was declared a National Monument in 1938. Today Desmond Castle hosts the International Museum of Wine Exhibition, an intriguing story that documents the unique history of Ireland's wine links with Europe and the wider world.
Location: In Kinsale town, 300 metres from Garda (Police) barracks along Cork street. Close to Carmelite Friary.
Bus Route(s): Contact Bus Eireann, Travel Centre +353 1 8366111.
Guided Tours:
Maximum number: 20
Duration: 30 minutes
Leaflet/Guide book: English, Irish, French, Spanish, Polish
Seasonal Events: Please check in advance using contact details listed above
Photography / Video allowed: Yes, but permit required for commercial purposes
Additional Information: Access to castle by steps
