Ringaskiddy: Harbour, History and Nature

Ringaskiddy combines maritime history with architecture and discoveries around Cork Harbour. A Martello Tower recalls the harbour’s former defences, while the oratory tells the story of a church built by the local community for the local community. There is also a fossil site, paths with harbour views and golf facilities. You can choose where to stay based on whether you are interested in history, nature or an active break.

Ferry port and routes to Cork

Ringaskiddy’s ferry terminal officially opened in 1982. Brittany Ferries had already launched the Cork–Roscoff ferry service in 1972, so the terminal came later. At Ringaskiddy Deepwater Quay, the Port of Cork can accommodate cruise ships. When cruise ships dock at Ringaskiddy, passengers can travel by car or taxi to Passage West. From there, a cross-channel ferry runs year-round, carrying passengers across the channel and close to Cobh. A bus service also runs from Ringaskiddy to Cork. If Cork is among your destinations, you can take this connection into account when choosing where to stay.

Martello Tower and oratory

Ringaskiddy’s Martello Tower was built in 1804 as a freestanding, oval, multi-storey tower. It is no longer in use and remains largely intact. One of five towers in Cork Harbour, it was part of a defensive line built against an invasion from the continent. Its design and historical context give the town’s history a tangible connection to the harbour, while making clear that the tower is not an active part of today’s infrastructure.

The oratory reveals another side of the area’s architectural history: this freestanding Roman Catholic church, built in 1923, is three-bay, single-storey and single-nave, with components from an earlier building incorporated into it. It was built by local people for local people and is a distinctive part of Ringaskiddy’s architectural heritage and streetscape. For travellers interested in culture, it makes an interesting contrast with the Martello Tower: one building with a community-centred history, the other shaped by a very different purpose. Both are reasons to see Ringaskiddy not only as a ferry port but also as a place with a history of its own.

Fossils, walks and golf

Crinoids can be found at Ringaskiddy’s fossil site. From Lough Beg Strand, reach the site by walking north along the beach. Near the destination, a walk along Lough Beg Road leads to a Martello Tower site on a hill above Ringaskiddy. From there, enjoy panoramic views over Cork Harbour. The fossil site and the viewpoint offer different kinds of discovery: a geological feature on the beach and a view of the harbour from the hill.

Golf enthusiasts will also find two named options: Raffeen Creek Pitch & Putt Club has an 18-hole course in a scenic setting overlooking Cork Harbour. Raffeen Creek Golf Club has a 9-hole course on the shores of Cork Harbour, with views of the harbour and surrounding countryside. For planning your free time, the two formats offer a choice between 18 holes of pitch and putt and a 9-hole golf course.

Other places to research: Schull, Ballingeary, Coachford, Farnanes, Ballinhassig, Belgooly, Minane Bridge, Castletownroche.

For the broader travel overview: Cork.