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EXISTING SITE
Elizabeth Fort is an early 17th century stone bastioned fort. Built on high ground outside the city walls, the fort overlooks the heart of the city, and is one of the most dramatically positioned fortifications in Ireland. The fort has several raised corner bastions which are accessible via a number of stone steps and/or recent timber walkways and stair interventions. The fort is one of the oldest upstanding structures in Cork City, and part of a system of fortifications located around Cork and its harbour. Elizabeth Fort has been in continued and varied use for over 400 years and is of major historic significance in the development and growth of the city. One of the focal points of the siege of Cork in 1690, the fort also served as a convict depot for prisoners awaiting transportation to Australia and most recently a garda barracks. Within the fort there is a two storey L ‐ shaped masonry structure which formerly hosted a garda barracks, training area and dwelling houses. This area now houses a public exhibition, as well as offices for Visit Cork and accommodation via the Landmark Trust. Elizabeth Fort has been open to the public, free of charge since Cork City Council took on its guardianship in 2015 and in 2019 attracted over 70,000 visitors. In 2019 the visitor offering was enhanced with a new permanent exhibition “Walls, Women, Water” which tells the story of the development of the fort, and of Cork City, through maps, images and text. Elizabeth Fort is listed in the Record of Monuments and Places (CO074 ‐ 03901) and the entire complex is listed in the Record of Protected Structures in the current City Development Plan. The site also falls within the South Parish Architectural Conservation Area in both the current City Development Plan 2015 ‐ 2021 & Draft CDP 2022 ‐ 2028. The site is also listed on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, which notes that it is of national importance for its archaeological, architectural, and historical interest. Over recent years Elizabeth Fort has been increasingly used as a venue for outdoor theatrical and musical performances, workshops, and other events. Across Europe historic buildings such as Elizabeth Fort often host such events, ensuring that historic buildings and locations remain in use also helping to secure their future viability. The site is ideally located ( Fig.1 ) adjacent to the Barrack St. area currently undergoing regeneration with huge potential for cultural and community lead activities. In tandem with nearby St.Finbarre’s Cathedral, Elizabeth Fort is an important visitor attraction for Cork.
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