a town of the county of Cork in Ireland, situated at the mouth of the river Ban or Bandon, 136 miles from Dublin. It is reckoned the third town in the kingdom, and inferior only to Cork in point of trade. It is neat, well built, and wealthy; is governed by a sovereign and recorder, and returns two members to parliament, patronage in the Southwell family. It is defended by a strong fort built by king Charles II. called Charles's Fort; and on the opposite shore there are two well built villages, called Cove and Scilly. In the town and liberties are 6 parishes, 30 plough-lands, and therein 6846 acres. The barracks hold 12 companies of foot, besides a regiment at Charles's fort. In the centre of the town is a good market house, and near it a strong built prison; and there are scattered up and down the ruins of several monasteries and religious houses. It has two fairs. In time of war Kinsale is a place of much business, being then frequented by rich homeward bound fleets and ships of war, for which reason most of the houses are then let at double rents. The harbour is very commodious, and perfectly secure; so large that the English and Dutch Smyrna fleets have anchored in it at the same time. There is a dock and yard for repairing ships of war, and a crane and gun wharf for landing and shipping heavy artillery. Ships may fail into or out of this harbour, keeping in the middle of the channel, with the utmost safety. Within the haven on the west side lies a great shelf, which shoots a great way off from the land; but leaves an ample passage by the side of it, in which, as in all the rest of the harbour, it is many fathoms deep. Lord Kinsale has the ancient privilege of keeping his hat on in the king's presence. Kinsale gives the title of baron to the very ancient family of Courcy, lineally descended from John de Courcy earl of Ulster, who from him have the privilege to be covered in the presence of the king of England.