Fort Davis, County Cork

Fort Davis
Dún an Dáibhisigh
Near Whitegate in County Cork in Ireland
Fort Davis viewed from Cork Harbour
Fort Davis is located in Ireland
Fort Davis
Fort Davis
Coordinates51°48′58″N 8°15′40″W / 51.816°N 8.261°W / 51.816; -8.261
TypeCoastal defence fortification
Area74 acres (30 ha)
Site information
OwnerDepartment of Defence
Open to
the public
No
Site history
Built1607 (1607) (original castle)
1860 (1860)s (significant reconstruction)
EventsSiege of Cork (1690), Treaty Port handover (1938)
Garrison information
OccupantsBritish Armed Forces, Irish Defence Forces

Fort Davis (Irish: Dún an Dáibhisigh;[1] previously Fort Carlisle), is a coastal defence fortification close to Whitegate, County Cork, Ireland. Together with similar structures at Fort Mitchel (Spike Island), Fort Camden (Crosshaven), and Templebreedy Battery (also close to Crosshaven), the fort was built to defend the mouth of Cork Harbour.[2] Though used as a fortification from the early 17th century, the current structures of the 74-acre site date primarily from the 1860s.[3][4] Originally named Fort Carlisle and operated by the British Armed Forces, the fort was handed-over to the Irish Defence Forces in 1938, and renamed Fort Davis.[5] The facility is owned by the Department of Defence, and is used as a military training site with no public access.[6]

  1. ^ English – Irish Dictionary of Military and Related Terms (PDF). Irish Defence Forces. 2007. p. 93. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  2. ^ Paul M. Kerrigan (1995). Castles and fortifications in Ireland, 1485–1945. Collins Press. ISBN 1898256128.
  3. ^ "Written Answers – Defence Forces Property (Dáil Éireann Debate Vol. 696 No. 2)". Oireachtas.ie. 26 November 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  4. ^ "Victorian Forts and Artillery – Fort Carlisle PDF Datasheet" (PDF). Victorian Forts and Artillery. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  5. ^ "A Yankee and Rebel Side by Side in Cork Harbour". Irish in the American Civil War. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  6. ^ "Your Town – Cork Harbour: Forts Camden and Carlisle". Passage West Town Council. Retrieved 19 March 2015.