Desmond Castle (Kinsale) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Desmond Castle |
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| Caisleán Deasmhumhan | |
| Cork Street, Kinsale in Republic of Ireland | |
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 Desmond Castle
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| Coordinates | 51°42′27″N 8°31′50″W / 51.7075°N 8.5306°W |
| Type | Tower house |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Office of Public Works |
| Open to the public |
yes |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1490–1510 |
| Built by | Maurice FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Desmond |
| Materials | limestone, slate, red brick, wrought iron, timber, glass |
| Battles/wars | Siege of Kinsale (1601–02) |
| Garrison information | |
| Past commanders |
Maurice FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Desmond |
| Official name | Desmond Castle or The French Prison, Kinsale |
| Reference no. | 360 |
Desmond Castle (Irish: Caisleán Deasmhumhan) is an old stone building called a tower house. You can find it in the town of Kinsale in County Cork, Ireland. It has a long and interesting history.
Contents
Discovering Desmond Castle's Past
Desmond Castle has been around for over 500 years! It started as a special building for collecting taxes and later became a prison.
How Desmond Castle Began
Around the year 1500, Maurice FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Desmond, built Desmond Castle. He was given the right to collect taxes on goods coming into Kinsale's port by King Henry VII in 1497. So, the castle was first used as a Customs House. This was a place where officials collected money for the government on things like wine or spices brought in by ships.
From Customs House to Prison
The castle was a Customs House until 1641. After that, it was turned into a naval prison. This meant it held prisoners from ships, mostly French and Spanish sailors. Because of this, local people started calling it the "French Prison."
A Fire and New Uses
In January 1747, a sad event happened: a fire broke out in the castle, and 54 prisoners died. Later, in 1791, a politician named James Kearney gave the castle to the town of Kinsale. It was then used as the town's gaol (which is another word for jail) until 1846. During the terrible time of the Irish Famine, it even served as a workhouse. A workhouse was a place where very poor people could live and work.
Desmond Castle Today
In 1938, the Irish government took over the castle. In the 1990s, it was carefully fixed up and opened to the public. Now, visitors can explore this historic building thanks to the Office of Public Works.
Exploring the International Museum of Wine
In 1997, a special museum was added to Desmond Castle. It's called the International Museum of Wine. This museum tells the story of how Ireland and the wine trade are connected. It's managed by a group called the Order of the Wine Geese. You can learn about the history of wine and its journey to Ireland.
Images for kids
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A reproduction of the old customs post inside the castle.
