Introduction to Kinsale, Ireland

KINSALE (www.kinsale.ie), eighteen miles south of Cork city, has retained much of the flavour of its rich maritime history and has much in common with the formerly affluent ports of Youghal, Cork and Cobh. With its pretty harbour and impressive forts, the opportunities it offers for watersports and its reputation as the gourmet centre of the southwest, Kinsale has become an extremely successful tourist town. For the most part development has been tasteful, though the pace of change is swift and a garish scar of pastel-coloured apartments disfiguring the hillside illustrates the threat commercialism poses to Kinsale's historic character. Still, despite the crowds and the cars, there is plenty of interest in the life, landscape and history to keep you here.

Information by Rough Guides

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