# Old-Fort, Co. Cork: townland, land parcels and planning

Townland in the civil parish of Ringrone, barony of Kinsale, Co. Cork; in Irish An Seandaingean.

- Area (Tailte Éireann): 145,051 m² (14.51 ha, 35.84 acres)
- Land parcels (Tailte Éireann): 1 registered freehold parcel lies mostly in it, median 116,132 m² (11.61 ha, 28.7 acres)
- Zoning (national zoning, MyPlan): not in a zoned settlement
- Planning (National Planning Applications): 5 applications since 2010
- Civil parish: Ringrone, https://everytownland.com/cork/parish/ringrone.md
- Barony: Kinsale
- Electoral division: Kinsale Rural, the unit of the census
- Census 2022 (Central Statistics Office): 5,605 people lived in 1,855 households in the Kinsale Rural electoral division. 75% of households owned their home. 47% of homes were built since 2001. 6% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 8% were holiday homes.
- County: Co. Cork, https://everytownland.com/cork.md
- Placenames Database of Ireland: https://www.logainm.ie/en/11103
- Townland number at Tailte Éireann: 44582
- Centre: latitude 51.698718, longitude -8.511856 (WGS 84)

## Land parcels (registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann)

1 registered freehold parcel lies mostly in Old-Fort, from 116,132 m² (11.61 ha, 28.7 acres) to 116,132 m² (11.61 ha, 28.7 acres); 2 neighbouring parcels touch its boundary. Largest first:

- Parcel 2261424: 116,132 m² (11.61 ha, 28.7 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/2261424.md

## Zoning (national zoning of development plans, MyPlan)

No zone of a development plan covers Old-Fort in the national zoning. Outside zoned towns and villages, the county development plan's rural policies apply to each application.

## Planning applications whose site touches the townland (National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

5 applications, newest first.

- 4 Jun 2019, Cork County Council 19/5465: Conditional. Permission. Construct single storey extension to side (South East) and two storey extension to rear and internal alterations to layout of existing dwellinghouse, along with all ancillary site development works. A similar application was previously granted under planning reference number 18/6001.. File: https://planning.agileapplications.ie/corkcoco/application-details/?ref=19/5465
- 4 Apr 2019, Cork County Council 19/4830: Incompleted application. Permission. Construct single storey extension to side (South East) and two storey extension to rear, internal alterations to layout, and all ancillary site development works. A similar application was previously granted under planning reference number 18/6001. File: https://planning.agileapplications.ie/corkcoco/application-details/?ref=19/4830
- 30 Jul 2018, Cork County Council 18/6001: Conditional. Permission. Construct single storey extension to side (South East) and rear, internal alterations to layout, 1 no. new rooflight to rear elevation and all ancillary site development works.. File: https://planning.agileapplications.ie/corkcoco/application-details/?ref=18/6001
- 3 Mar 2016, Cork County Council 16/4485: Conditional. Permission. (1) Construct a ground and first floor extension to the north of the existing dwelling, (2) replace existing eastern conservatory roof with part slated and part glazed, and replace existing glazed opening doors-side windows with a large sliding door with side window on the eastern elevation, and (3) carry out associated works. File: https://planning.agileapplications.ie/corkcoco/application-details/?ref=16/4485
- 19 Feb 2016, Cork County Council 16/4365: Incompleted application. Permission. 1. Construct a ground and first floor extension to the north of the existing dwelling, 2. Replace existing eastern conservatory roof with part slated and part glazed, and replace existing glazed east opening doors-side windows with a large sliding door with side window on the eastern elevation, 3. Carry out associated site works. File: https://planning.agileapplications.ie/corkcoco/application-details/?ref=16/4365

Applicants are not shown.

## Designated sites (National Parks and Wildlife Service)

- Proposed Natural Heritage Area: James Fort, site code 001060

## Recorded monuments (Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service)

- CO112-036: Bastioned fort, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CCO112-036----. On the highest part of a promontory which projects on the W side of Kinsale harbour. This seventeenth-century bastioned fort was built on the site of a tower named 'Castle Parks' where was 'a small structure of no great strength', shown on the map of 1587 (Hayes-McCoy 1964, 25). This was occupied and further strengthened by the Spanish in 1601 (O'Sullivan 1916, 47). After the Battle of Kinsale work began, in February 1602, on a 'pentagonal bastioned work designed by Paul Ives' (Kerrigan 1980, 15), which was not completed until October 1604 (Hayes-McCoy 1964, 33) at a cost of £675 (O'Sullivan 1916, 99). It was in need of repairs by 1611 when the defences were improved and an inner fort built (Gowen 1979, 257). It was repaired again in 1677 (ibid., 257-9), and captured by Williamite forces in October 1690 (see CO125-034----; Kerrigan 1980, 15; Gowen 1979, 259). The defences are described in detail by Gowen (ibid., 259-63), as comprised of five earthen bastions on the angles of a pentagon, linked by straight curtain walls, enclosing an area of c. 100m by c. 120m. An external ditch is evident on the W, N and E sides (max. Wth 15m). The landward bastions (to the SW) are larger than the other three; part of the stone facing survives on this side. Mid-way along the S curtain are the remains of a gate-house and of the revetment for a drawbridge. Centrally placed within is a square fort, enclosing an area c. 30m by c. 40m, with demi-bastions on each corner. The wall is pierced by gun loops and backed by earthen banks. Inside are two diametrically opposed towers with gun loops, between which are three gabled buildings forming a quadrangle. From the ditch at the NE corner of the inner fort, a covered way leads to a vaulted sally port beside the NE bastion of the outer fort, and then NE to the blockhouse (CO112-083---) on the shoreline. This is a National Monument in State Guardianship (no. 525). See summary of excavations: https://excavations.ie/report/2003/Cork/0009635/ https://excavations.ie/report/1998/Cork/0003255/ See also O'Donnell, M. 2002: Excavations at James Fort, Kinsale, 1974-98. JCHAS 107, 1-70. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 2: East and South Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1994). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Photographs attached CO112-036----_01: Aerial view from S. CO112-036----_02: View of internal fort, from W. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009
- CO112-083: Blockhouse, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CCO112-083----. At the NE tip of Castlepark promontory in Kinsale harbour. The remains of this blockhouse are approached from the W by a covered way from James' Fort (CO112-036---). It was built on a rock outcrop just above the high-tide mark. According to O'Neil (1940, 113), the earliest part of the structure dates to the 16th century, however, O'Sullivan (1916, 99) gives a 1604 account for the construction of James Fort which includes £50 for a 'Blockhouse at the point of the land'. It is shown on a 1625 map (Hayes-McCoy 1964, 33) and clearly depicted in Phillips's 'prospect' of 1685 (Kerrigan 1977-9). Whatever its date, the structure appears to be the remains of a shore-level battery of at least eight guns, with a magazine and accommodation as part of the complex. The remains consist of a roofless ruin, modified in recent times when it was used as a 'store for fish boxes' (O'Sullivan 1916, 100). The covered way leads to a downward sloping ramp passing between two rectangular structures and through wide doorway onto the level platform (17.8m E-W; 17m N-S), enclosed by straight walls to the N, S and W and by a three-sided wall to the E. The ground floor wall is pierced by a series of double splayed opes, all modified recently to take window frames; the 1st floor wall was added in recent times. The double splayed opes are probably gun ports. In the NW corner a passage leads to a domed magazine (6.1m E-W; 4.6m N-S), approached through a small ante chamber. In the N wall of the passage there is a splayed and lintelled ope with a narrow vertical slit, and according to O'Neil (1940, 112) it is 'probable that this opening is for cannon' and was dated by him to the 16th century. In the SW corner a rock-cut passage with rock-cut stairs rises to a platform (c. 4m E-W; c. 3.5m N-S) overlooking the buildings. On the N side of the ramp is a 2-storey structure (int. 3.45m N-S; 3.6m E-W) with a fireplace in the W wall on both floors, and gun loops in the N and S walls at 1st floor level. To the S of the ramp there is a similar structure with one floor, at a higher level, also with a fireplace in the W wall. Overlooking the blockhouse, c. 80m to the WSW is a rectangular gable-ended structure (7.3m N-S; 10.5m E-W), roofless but with walls standing to full height, partially ivy-clad on inspection. It has a central door in the E wall, approached through a round-arched porch, flanked by windows with attic window overhead; the side walls are blank. A central fireplace in the W wall is covered by a segmental brick arch, and a rectangular stack overhead; unusually, four angled flues feed into the stack but the features from which they fed are gone or ruined. Kerrigan (1980, 15) suggests it may be the remains of a tower built in 1654-6 and shown on Phillips's 'prospect' of 1685, however, it is depicted on the prospect as a tall square tower unlike the present structure. The arrangement of flues suggests some system for smoking fish; according to local information it was used for curing fish (pers. comm. Eugene Gillen). This is a National Monuments in State Guardianship (no. 525). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 2: East and South Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1994). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Photographs attached CO112-083----_01: View of blockhouse from SE. CO112-083----_02: Interior of the blockhouse from S. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

Works at or in relation to a recorded monument need two months' written notice to the National Monuments Service (National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, section 12).

## Architectural heritage (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage)

- James's Fort, fortification, 1600–1605, National interest, registry number 20911215, https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=CO&regno=20911215. Freestanding coastally sited star-shaped fort, built 1604, now disused. Rubble limestone star-shaped fort to interior of outer fortifications comprising four diamond plan bastions with remains of repaired castellated parapets. Round-headed door opening having replacement dressed limestone block-and-start surround and voussoirs with replacement timber battened door. Sally-port to north-west elevation of northern bastion. Remains of east and west towers, garrison buildings and courtyard to interior. Attached two-bay two-storey tower to west. Rubble limestone walls. Square-headed window opening with limestone lintel. Several defensive loop openings to first floor. Square-headed door opening having limestone lintel. Attached two-bay two-storey tower to east. Having dressed stone eaves course. Rubble limestone walls. Square-headed window opening with limestone lintel. Several defensive loop openings to ground and first floor. Square-headed door openings having limestone lintels. Attached U-plan multiple-bay single and two-storey garrison buildings. Pitched gables, having rubble limestone chimneystacks with square-headed fireplace openings to interior. Rubble limestone walls. Remains of square-headed window and door openings having limestone lintels. Rubble limestone lined passage, orientated north to south below ground level. Enclosed limestone staircase ascending to east. Pointed arch openings having rubble limestone soffits. Square-headed opening to staircase entrance having limestone lintel.
- Store/warehouse, 1540–1560, National interest, registry number 20911216, https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=CO&regno=20911216. Freestanding irregular-plan three-bay two-storey blockhouse, built c.1550, redesigned in 1677 and recently rebuilt as store. Comprising D-plan former battery to seaward (north-east) side with the landward (south-west) side defended by two demy-bastions. Magazine with small entrance room to western bastion and platform to southern bastion. Formerly flat-roofed with rubble limestone chimneystack. Rubble limestone walls throughout. Camber-headed window openings having rubbed yellow brick voussoirs. Square-headed loop openings having internal chamfers. Camber-headed door opening having rubbed yellow brick voussoirs and recently inserted exposed timber lintels. Square-headed door opening to magazine, leading to camber-headed interior door opening having limestone rubble voussoirs. Vaulted roof to magazine and entrance bay.

## Ground and risks (Radon Risk Map of Ireland, EPA; Landslide Susceptibility Classification and LiDAR, Geological Survey Ireland)

- Radon: at the centre of the townland of Old-Fort, about 1 in 5 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home: https://www.epa.ie/environment-and-you/radon/radon-testing/#d.en.82887
- Landslides: The 1:50,000 map rates the landslide susceptibility here as moderately high, moderately low, low, partly inferred.
- Terrain model: no LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of the townland of Old-Fort.
- Flooding: the flood maps of the Office of Public Works, https://www.floodinfo.ie/map/floodmaps/, linked only: their licence does not allow re-use.

LiDAR: contains Irish Public Sector Data (Geological Survey Ireland & the Office of Public Works) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.

## Downloads

- DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its boundary, parcels and buildings, for a drawing program: https://everytownland.com/cork/old-fort.dxf
- GeoJSON, in WGS 84, for a map: https://everytownland.com/cork/old-fort.geojson
- KML, for Google Earth: https://everytownland.com/cork/old-fort.kml

## Homes sold (Residential Property Price Register)

No address of the register names Old-Fort with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Cork: https://everytownland.com/cork.md

## Neighbouring townlands (National Statutory Boundaries, Tailte Éireann)

- Castlepark: https://everytownland.com/cork/castlepark.md

A townland is the smallest land division of Ireland, and the unit of a rural address; old registers such as the 1901 and 1911 censuses file it under its civil parish and barony.

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Everytownland reads the registered freehold land and the statutory boundaries of Tailte Éireann, the national zoning, planning file and heritage records of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Residential Property Price Register. A parcel is the land of a title, not an address. The owner's name is in the Land Registry of Tailte Éireann: a copy of the folio can be ordered on landdirect.ie, for a fee; this site names no owner. A price is the price recorded for a past sale, not a valuation.

Sources: Cadastral Parcels Freehold, Townlands, Civil Parishes, Baronies, Electoral Divisions and Buildings, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0; national zoning of development plans (GZT, MyPlan) and National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0, applicants not shown; designated sites, National Parks and Wildlife Service, CC BY 4.0; Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service, CC BY 4.0; National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, CC BY 4.0; Residential Property Price Register, Property Services Regulatory Authority, re-used with the source acknowledged.

- Page: https://everytownland.com/cork/old-fort
- In JSON: https://everytownland.com/api/townland/cork/old-fort