Tour Desmond Castle in the beautiful Harbor Town of KinsaleDesmond Castle is on Cork Street in Kinsale, in Ireland's Southwest Region. Kinsale is about ten miles (16 km) south of Cork City.
The castle has been used as a prison, a customs house, a workhouse, and a store. Today, you can enjoy a tour of the International Museum of Wine in Desmond Castle. The conversion was made in 1997 by Irish Heritage Service, local restaurant owners and historians. © Patricia McKinney-Lins 
© Patricia McKinney-Lins Some of the Wild Geese left after wars in Ireland; others left because of the laws against Catholics, others left to find business opportunities in Europe. The Winegeese left during the 17th century and later, to work in the wine industry in countries such as France, Spain, Italy and Germany. In later centuries, the Winegeese settled in North America, Australia, and Africa.
Desmond Castle was built as a customs house by the Ninth Earl of Desmond, Maurice Bacach Fitzgerald, in about 1500. The Fitzgeralds were descendants of Anglo-Norman settlers and controlled large areas of Munster. The Spanish military supported a rebellion against England in 1601 and occupied the castle and the town. 
The castle became a place for keeping prisoners in terrible conditions from 1630 to 1800. American sailors captured during the American War for Independence, French prisoners and Spanish prisoners were all kept in the castle. © Patricia McKinney-Lins 
© Patricia McKinney-Lins In 1791, the castle was donated to Kinsale and used to keep local prisoners. In the 1840s and 50s the castle was used to house the poor during the Famine. In later years it was used as a stable and a meeting house. To read more about the castle and the Winegeese, go to the Desmond Castle Heritage website .
Here is a map of the Kinsale area: View Larger Map Return to Home Page
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