James's Fort

James Fort
Central fortification of James Fort
Location of James Fort in Kinsale harbour
TypeBastion fort
LocationCastlepark peninsula, Kinsale harbour, County Cork, Ireland
Coordinates51°41′55″N 8°30′44″W / 51.6986°N 8.5122°W / 51.6986; -8.5122
Built1602 (1602)
Governing bodyOffice of Public Works
TypeGuardianship
Reference no.525
DescriptionStar-shaped-fort & blockhouse

James Fort (Irish: Dún Rí Shéamuis) is an early 17th-century pentagonal bastion fort located on Castlepark peninsula in Kinsale harbour, County Cork, Ireland. Situated downstream from Kinsale on the River Bandon, the fort was built to defend the harbour and seaborne approaches of the town. Following the construction of Charles Fort on the opposite side of the harbour in the late 17th century, James Fort became known as the "old fort" (Irish: an Seandaingean).[1][2] Listed as a protected National Monument, and managed by the Office of Public Works, the fort is open to visitors.[3]

  1. ^ "Place Names Commission - James Fort / Old Fort / An Seandaingean". Irish Place Names Commission. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  2. ^ Mackenzie Semple, John (1937). "Charles Fort, Kinsale". Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research. 16. Society for Army Historical Research: 174. JSTOR 44226191.
  3. ^ "Discover Ireland - Historic Houses and Castles - James Fort Kinsale". Failte Ireland (Irish Tourist Board). Retrieved 5 October 2014.