Fort Templebreedy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Templebreedy |
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| Dún Theampall Bríde | |
| Near Crosshaven in County Cork in Ireland | |
Irish Coastal Defence Artillery exercise at Fort Templebreedy in the 1940s
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 Fort Templebreedy
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| Coordinates | 51°47′25″N 8°16′59″W / 51.79036°N 8.28306°W |
| Type | Coastal defence battery |
| Area | 37 acres (15 ha) |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Department of Defence |
| Condition | Largely deconstructed |
| Emplacements | Two BL 9.2 inch Mark X guns (Other Quick-firing practice guns) |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1904-1909 |
| In use | Until ~1940s (as coast defence) Until ~1980s (as training camp) |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | British Armed Forces, Irish Defence Forces |
Fort Templebreedy (Irish: Dún Theampall Bríde), also called Templebreedy Battery, was a strong fort built near Crosshaven in County Cork, Ireland. It was designed to protect the entrance to Cork Harbour. This fort was built between 1904 and 1909. It worked with other forts like Fort Camden and Fort Davis.
Fort Templebreedy was used as a place for coastal artillery (big guns that defend the coast) until the 1940s. After that, it became a military training camp until the late 1900s. Many parts of the 37-acre site were taken apart over time. Some of the land was even used as a pitch and putt golf course. In 2009, Cork County Council wanted to protect the site. However, as of 2020, it is still owned by the Department of Defence.
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History of Fort Templebreedy
Why Fort Templebreedy Was Built
Like other forts such as Fort Camden and Fort Carlisle, Fort Templebreedy was built to protect the very important entrance to Cork Harbour. In the early 1900s, new plans were made to improve the harbour's defences. This included adding newer, more powerful guns. Instead of putting these new guns at Fort Camden, it was decided to build a new fort slightly south of it, at Templebreedy. This new fort would help protect against threats coming from the Celtic Sea, outside the harbour itself.
Building the Fort
Construction of Fort Templebreedy happened between 1904 and 1909. The fort had concrete places for two very large 9.2 inch Mark X guns. It also had underground rooms to store ammunition (called magazines), powerful searchlights, and several machine-gun positions. Later, a practice area was added for smaller 12-pounder guns. Another area was built for even larger 6-inch Mark VII guns, but these were never actually put in place. By 1909, the fort had living spaces for four officers and 81 soldiers.
Fort Templebreedy During Wartime
During World War I (1914-1918), Cork Harbour was an important naval base. Fort Templebreedy helped defend the "Western Approaches" alongside Fort Camden and Fort Carlisle.
During the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921), Fort Templebreedy was a bit isolated. Sometimes, groups like the IRA would ambush supplies going to the fort. After the Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed, the British military kept control of the harbour defences, including Templebreedy. However, in July 1938, these "Treaty Port" sites were given back to the Irish authorities.
The Irish Defence Forces continued to use and maintain the fort during World War II (known as "the Emergency" in Ireland). The fort's defences were mostly taken out of service in 1946. Even though the big 9.2 inch guns stayed until the 1960s, the buildings and grounds were still used for training until the 1970s and later. This included training camps for the Army Reserve and Naval Reserve.
What Happened After the Wars?
In the early 2000s, Fort Templebreedy was no longer used for military purposes. Today, many of the buildings, concrete gun positions, and underground storage rooms are still there. However, none of the original guns or defensive equipment remain.
Fort Templebreedy Today
From the very beginning, there were some disagreements about who could access the fort's land. These issues included debates about public pathways and concerns about people building houses near the fort's access roads.
Some years after the fort stopped being used for defence, part of the site was turned into a pitch and putt golf course. But this course closed in 2005. In 2009, Cork County Council added Fort Templebreedy to a list of protected buildings. This was meant to help protect the site and possibly turn it into a place for history and recreation. However, as of 2020, the fort is still owned by the Department of Defence. This means that public access to the site is still limited.
