Charles Fort Lighthouse is located within the grounds of Charles Fort. The star-shaped fortress overlooks Kinsale Harbour. It was built in the late seventeenth century and designed by William Robinson.
The fort is located just outside Kinsale, where King James II disembarked before his Boyne campaign.
Charles Fort was originally known as Ringcurran Castle, also known locally as Barry Og’s Castle. It was renamed Charlesfort in 1681.
Two previous lights existed within Ringcurran Castle, the first being exhibited from a cottage around 1665. Later, in 1804, a light was shown from a diamond-shaped window from the top of the walls, which is still visible.
The current Charles Fort Lighthouse was established on 27th April 1929. It was built as an unwatched lighthouse and was one of the last lighthouses to use carbide for the light. Michael Arnott was the attendant, and his father, Bob, was the Daunt Lightship skipper.
The lighthouse was converted to propane gas on 8th October 1980 and to electric operation on 19th March 2004.
The British Army used the fortress as a barrack until it was relinquished following the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921.
Access to the fort is along a narrow road. The fort is open between March and October, and there is an entry fee to enter the grounds.
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