Best Historic Places in County Cork, Republic of Ireland - Map and Reviews

Elizabeth Fort is built on a rocky outcrop overlooking the city of Cork. It is located on Barrack Street in the heart of the city. Elizabeth Fort is star-shaped stone fort on an earthern bank. All that remains today is the outer wall of the fort, the interior having been burned down during the Civil War. Access to the fort is from the east side from Fort St. This entrance has an arched opening surrounding by square limestone stones. The limestone ramparts and corner bastions of the east wall remain in intact from the original construction in the early 17th century. The fort offers exceptional views of Cork city from the ramparts and from the timber viewing gallery along the northern side of the courtyard. Facilities Elizabeth Fort used to be home to An Garda Siochana (police) station. During the summer months, the fort hosts various Irish craft and food markets, and also historical re-enactments. During the winter months the fort houses Cork City's first ice skating rink protected from the elements. The ice rink hosts the 7UP Christmas On Ice experience. A range of winter ice skating events are catered for including birthdays on ice, corporate events, silent discos, and other fun activities on the ice. The venue has a cafe serving hot drinks and snacks. Visitors can also enjoy the food at the historic Gateway Bar. An Garda Siochana vacated the Fort in 2013 and it is now solely a tourism site, open 10am - 5pm Tuesday - Sunday. Plans are in place to transform the old Garda Barracks in the interior into an interpretive centre and museum with visitor facilities and amenities. The entrance is on Barrack Street. Elizabeth Fort was built in 1601 during the reign of Elizabeth I, by Sir George Carew, the president of Munster at the time. The fort was built as an army base to protect the city, but it was demolished by the people of Cork in 1603 when James 1 came to the throne to prevent it being used against them. The people were subsequently forced by Lord Mountjoy to rebuilt it with an even stronger structure, which was completed in 1624. It was modified again by Oliver Cromwell's men in1649. Williamite forces captured the castle in 1690 when they besieged the city. In more recent times, the fort has been used for a variety of purposes. In 1835 it was a female prison, and later became used as a military base by British forces and the Black & Tans after World War 1. During the Irish Civil War in 1922, the barracks was destroyed by fire leaving the internal buildings burnt out. Until 2013, it was in use as a police station and is administered by the Office of Public Works who have undertaken restoration work.

Coppingers Court is situated in a field south of Ballyvireen in southern County Cork. The main state rooms were in a central two storey structure with two four storey wings on the northern side. The wings have prominent corbelled parapets, with machicolations (floor opening through which missiles could be dropped on attackers). There are also machicolations on the southern side of the main block. Most of the windows are gone, with some remnants still visible in the south wing. The servants quarters were in the roof attic. An octagonal chimney is still visible This stronghouse was built by local merchant, Sir Walter Coppinger in the 1620s and 1630s. One of his descendants, Walter Coppinger, a rebel Catholic, was outlawed by the Williamite government in 1691. The house was later held by the Beecher family.

Charles Fort is situated about 3km from Kinsale on a cliff overlooking Kinsale harbour. Across the harbour is James Fort. Charles Fort is a star-shaped fort with five bastions. There are two bastions facing the sea: Devils bastion and Charles bastion, with gun embrasures inside and on top of the walls. The other three bastions known as North, Cockpit and Flagstaff face landward and each had a brick sentry box at the point. Facilities There is an Exhibition Centre with multimedia displays, models and military artifacts. Guided tours of the fort are available, and there is a cafe on the site. Wheelchair access is restricted access due to the uneven terrain. Charles Fort is built on the same site as an earlier castle, Ringcurran Castle, which was involved in the Siege of Kinsale in 1601. The present Charles Fort was built to protect Kinsale from the French and Spanish fleets in the 17th century. In war time, an underwater chain was stretched across the estuary from Charles Fort to James Fort, to hole enemy ships which ventured into the estuary. The fort was constructed in the 1670s through the 1680s and the name refers to King Charles II. In 1690, the Williamite forces attacked both Charles Fort and James Fort after the Battle of the Boyne. After the siege, the fort was repaired, and was used as a British Army barracks through until British rule ended in southern Ireland. The fort was burned and partially destroyed by the retreating anti-Treaty forces in 1922 during the Irish Civil War. The fort was made a National Monument of Ireland in 1971, and since then has been partially restored by the Irish heritage service, Dúchas.