Kilkerin Point Battery in County Clare

Kilkerin Point in County Clare is the location for this late 18th-century fortress, built by the British to defend the Shannon Estuary from a possible French invasion by Napoleon’s forces. This is one of six batteries built along the Shannon. Fortunately, they never were used, as Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo before he had a chance to invade Ireland.

According to Ireland’s National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, the Kilkerin Point Battery consists of a “Detached 6-bay single storey over basement limestone ashlar fort c. 1810 with moat, base batter, gun loops and glacis, detached 4-bay single storey magazine with moat and base battery.”

Many signal towers also surround the island of Ireland — they were also built in the late 18th Century as a sort of early-warning system to keep watch for Napoleon’s invading forces.

Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo in Belgium, on June 18, 1815, marking the end of the decade-long Napoleonic Wars. He surrendered his position as France’s Emperor four days later.

Kilkerin Point has expansive views of the Shannon Estuary and County Kerry on the other side. You can also see Shannon Ferries pass between Kilimer in County Clare and Tarbert in County Kerry.