Building: 1800's
The Old Bank House is an elegant, luxury Georgian Guest House in spectacular central location in Kinsale close to all the boutiques, restaurants and amenities. The perfect blend of Georgian splendour and modern comfort, filled with period pieces and original art make The Old Bank House unique. The beautiful rooms at the Old Bank House are individually and tastefully designed and decorated to the highest standard, with most rooms enjoying picturesque views of Kinsale Town. The Old Bank House offers 17 bedrooms, a combination of Double and king size Georgian rooms with two suites, the post master suite and the modern signature suite room.
The guesthouse provides a Gourmet Food Store which offers a wide range of fresh products produced daily in house by their chefs. A selection of great food products can be purchased including hampers, chocolates and many more gourmet treats. The stylish cáfe offers delicious menu with daily specials, salads, takeaway lunches and coffees. There is also a boutique bakery serving freshly baked cakes, pastries and homemade bread.
Steeped in history, this Kinsale accommodation was originally the Munster & Leinster Bank. The beautiful Georgian facade with impressive sash windows used to front a waterway for passing ships that berthed in the quays running from the site of on old mill.
The Old Bank House offers a charm and luxury in Kinsale.
Our reputation for excellent, friendly personal service and meticulous attention to detail will always ensure your visit to Old Bank House Kinsale is a special one.
Until the late eighteenth century the street the hotel is located on (Pearse Street) was an open waterway. This was covered over at the end of eighteenth century to create the current street and the buildings that now form the old bank house and surrounding wall date from this time.
History about the building....
The Munster Bank was founded in 1864 and grew very rapidly. The bank’s promoters were a cross-section of leading Cork businessmen, acting on a general feeling that in the south of Ireland, many towns that could support a bank if they had one.
The Munster formed branches in several places previously without a banking presence. By 1875 these included Kinsale.
The Munster Bank failed in July 1885 and became part of the Munster & Leinster bank at that time.
At the time of its failure, the Munster had forty-one branches (including Kinsale) as well as two big offices in Cork’s South Mall and Dublin’s Dame Street.
As per its final accounts in 1885, the Kinsale branch of the Munster Bank is reported to have had an estimated 459 accounts which made it the 8th biggest branch of the 41 that the Munster Bank has operating at that time. To put this in context, the population of Kinsale per the 1881 census was 5,386 which made Kinsale the 14th largest town of the 41 served by the Munster Bank at that time. This indicates that the Kinsale branch was well supported by the local community from the beginning.
Records show that the Munster Bank was the only bank operating in Kinsale in 1885. This suggests that the Munster Bank (AIB today) was the first licensed bank to serve Kinsale & district.
The Munster & Leinster traded in Kinsale up to the formation of Allied Irish Bank in 1966 when the Munster & Leinster Bank, the Provincial Bank & the Royal Bank merged.
The Munster & Leinster bank operated out of the Old Bank House in Kinsale for many years and is now an award winning 5 star guest house.
Open: All year but closes on Christmas day - Rooms: 17 - Rates: €95 per room per night to €310 per night
The Old Bank House offers 17 bedrooms, a combination of Double and king size Georgian rooms with two suites, the post master suite and the modern Collection signature suite. We also have a Reading room available for guests to use.
The Old Bank House has a gourmet café open every day offering a wide range of freshly bakes pastries, treats and lunches made in our bakery. It allows you to take a taste of Kinsale home with you.
The restaurants are located in our sister property The Blue Haven Hotel (only a few doors down from us) and food is served there 7 days a week.
The wedding & meeting facilities are located at The Blue Haven Hotel .
Cork Airport , 21KM
Local Attractions | Charles Fort Desmond Castle James Fort Historical and Heritage Walking Tours Ringfinnan Garden of Remembrance Kinsale Harbour Cruise Lots of stunning walks Horse Riding |
Golf Places | Old Head of Kinsale Golf Kinsale Gold Course |
Park/Gardens | The Garden of Remembrence Kinsale Town Park |
Museums | The Kinsale Museum Irish Veterans Museum The Old Mill Lusitania Museum & Old Head Signal Tower |
Festivals/Events | Restaurant Week- February Kinsale St Patricks Day Celebrations Kinsales Chowder Festival- April Kinsale Rugby Sevens Weekend- May Kinsale Vintage Rally - May Kinsale Regatta Weekend- August Kinsale Sharks Event- October Kinsale Gourmet Festival - October Kinsale Jazz Festival- October Kinsale Christmas - December |