The walls of Cork

The Celtic settlements in Cork were situated by the abbey of St.Finnbarr at Gill Abbey. The high ground gave enough protection and there is no evidence of a defensive wall. The Danes or Vikings settled on the marshy ground at the foot of gill abbey and around the area where Elizabeth Fort is now down as far as Cove Street. After the Norman invasion walls were built to protect the growing city. Over time the walls were improved and towers were added. By the time of the siege of Cork the walls were over 1.5 Km long enclosing an area from the North Gate to the South Gate bridges. The walls were so badly damaged during the Siege of Cork that they were never repaired. Only small sections of the wall are left for example in Bishop Lucey Park.