Camden Fort Meagher

About the museum

Camden Fort Meagher guards the entrance to Cork Harbour from a hill above Crosshaven. It was built mainly to defend the coast against the French and to protect the busy harbour, and over time it grew into a large complex of gun positions, galleries, magazines and barracks. A large part of the fort lies underground.

Today the fort is a protected monument owned and run by Cork County Council as a seasonal visitor attraction. After extensive restoration, the casemate building now holds the main exhibitions, and visitors can walk through historic tunnels and exhibition rooms, see the flanking gallery, gun shed and numerous gun positions, and admire a spiral staircase and the underground gunpowder magazine. From the fort you can see the last anchorage point of the Titanic.

Twice-daily guided tours bring the site to life, and families can follow the Torpedo Trail, dress up in costumes and play games. A café on site is promoted as one of the most scenic in Cork, and school and group tours are available.

Highlights

• Underground tunnels, magazine and spiral staircase
• Exhibition rooms in the restored casemate building
• Flanking gallery, gun shed and gun positions overlooking Cork Harbour
• View of the last anchorage point of the Titanic
• Free guided tours and a Torpedo Trail for families

Permanent exhibition

• Casemate exhibitions and tunnels – Exhibition rooms in the restored casemate building and the fort’s tunnels, explaining how the fort defended Cork Harbour.

Operated by

Cork County Council

Admission & discounts

Tickets can only be bought on entry, by cash or card. The guided tour is free of charge.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Wheelchair accessibility is limited and some areas of the fort are restricted. Parts of the fort are steep and the terrain is uneven. Accessible toilets and baby-changing facilities are on site. Dogs on a lead are allowed outdoors but not in the exhibition rooms.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

Families can follow the Torpedo Trail, dress up in costumes and play games. Children under 3 enter free and a family ticket is available. Children must be supervised at all times because of steep and uneven ground.

Getting there & parking

The fort is 25 km from Cork city and 28 km from Kinsale.

Amenities & dining

• Café

A café is on site, and visitors may also bring a picnic.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Cork County Council invites expressions of interest for using exhibition spaces, underground chambers and the parade ground for exhibitions, performances and workshops.

Plan your visit