parliamentary and municipal borough and seaport-town of Ireland, county of Cork, on the N.E. side of the estuary of the Bandon, about 3 miles from the sea, and 14 miles S. from Cork. The town is built principally on the side of Compass Hill, and hence has a fine appearance when viewed from the harbour; but on entering it, the streets are found to be narrow and inconvenient, some of them being so steep as not to admit carriages. The houses are for the most part antiquated in appearance, some of them having bay-windows and balconies after the Spanish fashion. The harbour is excellent, having a depth of 14 feet of water at the mouth at low ebb, and from 6 to 8 fathoms at a cable's length from the shore, with accommodation for 300 sail of vessels. Its entrance is protected by Charles Fort, now a barracks. Notwithstanding these advantages, the trade of the port is very trifling, owing to its proximity to Cork. The town is chiefly dependent on the fisheries, the proceeds of which are said to average L500 a week. The fishing-boats of the port, called hookers, are generally of from 15 to 20 tons. Lobsters and oysters are taken along the shore. Kinsale is much resorted to in the summer season for sea-bathing. Pop. (1851) 5506. (Thom's Irish Almanac).