Kinsale, Friday 1st May

After a 12 hour sail on Thursday we arrived in Kinsale, historically one of the most significant river ports in Southern Ireland, and now a busy tourist town with 2 marinas.The journey here was not uneventful !  3 or 4 dolphins joined us for over 10 minutes, riding the bow wave and swopping from side to side.  It was lovely to see; we had the boat on autohelm and went up to the bow and they were so close to us.  Quite small dolphins - ? Risso.  Not many seal sightings yet - 1 in the harbour today. Lots of guillimots, gannets and kittiwakes, plus some choughs near Dunmore East.
In early 17th Century a Spanish fleet with 3500 men landed in Kinsale in support of an Irish upraising against the English. Their defeat at the battle of Kinsale meant that Ireland remained under English rule until the 20th Century. 100 years ago the Cunard liner Lusitania was sunk by German U boat just off Kinsale Head, costing 1200 civilian lives and causing outrage in Ireland, England and the USA. Sadly the weather today is a bit windy and damp, so we are not seeing the town at its best. Wendy and Dave donned their waterproofs for a brisk walk out to the large 17th Century "Star" fort guarding the entrance from the sea.

Kinsale marina on a damp and rather dismal day.