The Blindgate Story

In the 16th/17th century Kinsale was a walled town. About 200 yards below the Guesthouse was one of the main entrances to Kinsale called St. Nicholas' Gate. Smugglers used carry goods from the river over the fields (probably where the guesthouse stands now) and in through this back entrance to the town. The kinsale corporation found this out and closed or 'blinded' the gate. The gate and the area then became known as Blindgate.

The back of the old convent building is just below the house gardens. This building was originally built to relieve hundreds of famine victims in the famous potato blight of the 1800's. This was also known as the Rope Walk - as it was where all the ropes for new ships departing from Kinsale and old rope for visiting ships were worked upon.