Visitors set to besiege Cork fort

The ramparts of a medieval fort which offer unrivalled views over Cork City will be open to the public within weeks after the State handed the historic building back to the city yesterday.

The news was confirmed after the Lord Mayor, Catherine Clancy, accepted, on behalf of the city, care of Elizabeth Fort from Brian Hayes, the minister of state with responsibility for the Office of Public Works.

The city council’s tourism unit, Team, will advertise soon for operators to manage the facility.

Admission will be free for the first few months, with decisions on opening hours yet to be finalised, said Team spokesman Damien O’Mahony.

He said they aim to lodge a formal funding application with Fáilte Ireland in May to help develop a €3m interpretive centre in the fort as part of a three-year development plan for the fort, off Barrack St.

The structure will be open by the end of next month, with schools being invited for tours of the site.