KinsaleWe were treated to a great walking tour this morning by Don Herlihy. He shared the history of Kinsale and how it has been influential as a coast/port town. It is strategically located in the trade wind paths and had been a security threat to England. The town, at one point, was enclosed in a wall, and all trading happened inside the wall where trades could be taxed as people came/exited the city. The strong tide made boat deliveries inaccessible for parts of the day (when tide was out), so they tried a number of pier ideas to improve that shortcoming. The city has gradually expanded to reclaim land from the sea.
Kinsale has buildings with brightly painted walls throughout city due to an Irish Tidy Town competition for cities to become more attractive. Kinsale improved from last place to first in just a couple of years. A local painter pushed the project. It turned out to be good marketing for both the painter and the city! |
Charles & James Forts
We took our coach up to Charles Fort, a star shaped fort that lost the only battle it ever fought. It was never completed due to a shortage of funds and got cannoned on the uncompleted side until the walls fell. This massive fort overlooks the harbor and, despite its poor battle history, was innovative in design for its time. After our tour of Charles Fort, we had the rest of the day to ourselves. Since we like exploring and hiking, we walked back along the harbor on the beautiful Scilly Walk Trail, grabbed lunch at the local market, and then took the 2.6 mile walk out to James Fort located on the opposite side of the harbor from Charles Fort. It was a worthwhile walk and gave us a glimpse into more Kinsale history. We put our miles on today with over 22,000 steps, and while we were tired, we loved every minute of it! Kinsale is a special town.
People and Culture
Don HerlihyDon was our guide through Kinsale, and he was a gem! He gave us personal and historic perspectives of this unique town.
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BondingWe continue to get to know our tour counterparts. We are once again part of a great group of Rick Steves travelers!
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Local MarketWe found our afternoon lunch at the local Kinsale market. It was filled with many local foods and personalities.
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Places and Sights
Charles FortCharles Fort was an innovation in its time with a star shaped design. Though it lost its only battle, it remains largely intact.
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The Kinsale HarborKinsale is beautifully located at the edge of a harbor and is an important port city for Ireland. It's beautiful and functional!
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James FortUnlike Charles Fort, James Fort is mostly destroyed. Still, it offers a nice view of its companion fort across the harbor.
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Music and the Arts
A Tidy TownA winner of Ireland's Tidy Town contest, Kinsale is a beautiful community with vibrant paint and flowers throughout town.
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Street MusiciansThis musician played for tips at the local market. Tourists and locals alike enjoyed being entertained as they ate their lunches.
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Local MarketLocal artisans set up their booths along city streets. Both local cuisine and crafts were on display and for sale.
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