Forts Camden and Carlisle

Fort Camden and Fort Carlisle are dramatically situated on promontories at opposite sides of the entrance to Cork Harbour. The construction of both Forts Camden and Carlisle as we see them today started around 1780. The narrowest point of the harbour entrance was chosen to close the harbour to enemy invaders. However, there is evidence of fortifications on the Fort Camden site dating back to the mid-16 th century.

    

Spike Island

Spike Island is an island of 104 acres in Lower Cork Harbour. Shortly after Christianity was introduced to Ireland, Saint Mochuda started a church here. Smuggling was widely practiced in the 18th century and the dark ruggedness of the Spike Island shoreline was a favourite hiding place for smugglers. However, this stopped in 1779 when the island was purchased by the British government from a local landowner. The construction of Fort Westmoreland began in 1790. Called after the then Lord Lieutenant, the Earl of Westmoreland, the first regular garrison moved in in 1806. In 1810, the Arsenal was moved from Kinsale to Spike.

    
      

Haulbowline Naval Base


Haulbowline is an island of about 84 acres in Cork Harbour. Linked by bridge to Ringaskiddy, Haulbowline is State property and is most well known as being the headquarters of the Irish Navy.
    

Titanic Experience, Cobh


Titanic Experience Cobh is a new permanent visitor attraction which opened on February 1st 2012 in Cobh, Co. Cork, Ireland.

Situated in the original offices of The White Star Line, the location marks the departure point for the last 123 passengers who boarded the Titanic on its fateful maiden voyage to America.

Our story is told using innovative audio visual technology bringing our characters to life through cinematic shows, scene sets, holographic imagery and touch screen technology.



    
      

St. Coleman's Cathedral, Cobh


St. Colman’s Cathedral is a magnificent example of Neo-Gothic architecture. Standing tall in the centre of the town, its construction began in 1868 and was not completed until 1916. The 49-bell carillon of the cathedral is the only such instrument in Ireland and larger than any of its kind in Britain. The carillon is played from a keyboard and pedalboard in the belfry and visitors to the town and to Cork Harbour are regularly treated to a recital of the bells carried far on the sea air over the water.
    

Cobh Heritage Centre
From 1848 – 1950 over 6 million adults and children emigrated from Ireland – over 2.5 million departed from Cobh, making it the single most important port of emigration. This exodus from Ireland was largely as a result of poverty, crop failures, the land system and a lack of opportunity. Irish emigration reached unprecedented proportions during the famine as people fled from hunger and disease.


    
      

Blackrock Castle Observatory


A trip to CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory is filled with fun and educational things to do for kids, families, school groups and science enthusiasts.