
Holeopen Bay East is situated on the southwest coast of Ireland about fifteen miles southwest of Cork Harbour. The bay is immediately northeast of the Old Head of Kinsale and it offers a remote and secluded anchorage but it is not possible to land here.
The bay provides a tolerable anchorage that is protected from conditions with a westerly component. Access is straightforward as it is completely open and absent of any obstructions.
Keyfacts for Holeopen Bay East
Last modified
May 8th 2018 Summary* Restrictions apply
A tolerable location with straightforward access.Facilities
None listedNature
Considerations
Position and approaches
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Haven position
In the middle of the bay from which you can see where the original hole that existed through the Isthmus from Holeopen Bay East out into Holeopen Bay West.
What is the initial fix?
The following Holeopen Bay East initial fix will set up a final approach:

What are the key points of the approach?
Offshore details are available in southwestern Ireland’s Coastal Overview for Cork Harbour to Mizen Head
.
Not what you need?
Click the 'Next' and 'Previous' buttons to progress through neighbouring havens in a coastal 'clockwise' or 'anti-clockwise' sequence. Below are the ten nearest havens to Holeopen Bay East for your convenience.
Ten nearest havens by straight line charted distance and bearing:
- Holeopen Bay West - 0.4 miles W
- Sandy Cove - 2.3 miles N
- Kinsale Harbour - 3.2 miles N
- Coolmain Bay - 3.4 miles WNW
- Oysterhaven - 3.5 miles NNE
- Blindstrand Bay - 3.5 miles W
- Broadstrand Bay - 3.7 miles W
- Seven Heads Bay - 4 miles WSW
- Courtmacsherry - 4.2 miles W
- Dunworly Bay - 5.4 miles WSW
These havens are ordered by straight line charted distance and bearing, and can be reordered by compass direction or coastal sequence:
- Holeopen Bay West - 0.4 miles W
- Sandy Cove - 2.3 miles N
- Kinsale Harbour - 3.2 miles N
- Coolmain Bay - 3.4 miles WNW
- Oysterhaven - 3.5 miles NNE
- Blindstrand Bay - 3.5 miles W
- Broadstrand Bay - 3.7 miles W
- Seven Heads Bay - 4 miles WSW
- Courtmacsherry - 4.2 miles W
- Dunworly Bay - 5.4 miles WSW
How to get in?

Holeopen Bay East is situated on the east side of bold projecting Old Head Of Kinsale headland that is bounded by steep cliffs with a prominent lighthouse on its southern extremity. It is entered between Kitchen Point, just over half a mile northward of the Old Head of Kinsale Lighthouse, and Black Head, just under a mile further northward. The bay offers a remote and secluded anchorage but it is not possible to land here.
The conspicuous Old Head of Kinsale and lighthouse provides a conspicuous mark for at least twenty miles in all directions. The head’s outer portion rises to a height of 76 metres and is almost isolated except for a narrow isthmus, about 120 metres across, that connects it to the mainland.

The ruin of De Courcy Castle stands over the isthmus, and a short distance to the north of it there is an old telegraph tower. On the extreme southern point of the head is the lighthouse. The 30 metres high tower is painted black with two white belts and is visible in clear weather for up to 20 miles. There is a disused light structure standing about half a mile north of the light on the eastern side of the headland
Old Head of Kinsale - lighthouse Fl (2) 10s 72m 20M position: 51°36.287'N, 008°32.018'W



Apart from the Bream Rock the ‘Old Head’ has no off-lying dangers and in settled conditions presents little issue.


Why visit here?
With spectacular cliffs, Holeopen Bay is situated off the mighty Old Head of Kinsale headland that extends 7km out to sea. Its extremity is further marked by a much-venerated lighthouse that is a prime seafaring landmark and steeped in history. The bay takes its name from the subterranean passage through the isthmus north of the Old Head of Kinsale.
On that day, eleven miles to the south of the Old Head, in the position of 51° 24.73’N, 008° 32.84’W the Cunard ocean liner Lusitania was torpedoed. The vessel went down in twenty minutes killing 1,198 of the 1,959 people aboard and only leaving 761 survivors. Those aboard included a large number of illustrious and internationally renowned people. These including the American millionaire Alfred Vanderbilt, Alice Moore Hubbard, author and woman's rights activist, and her writer and philosopher husband Elbert Hubbard and many more. Likewise Ireland’s renowned art collector, founder of Dublin’s Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery, Sir Hugh Lane went down with the ship. The sinking turned public opinion in many countries against Germany and significantly contributed to the American entry into World War I.


Chief amongst these caves was one that ran under the Old Head isthmus itself. In 2008 this spectacular hole, that lends the bay its name, collapsed and was filled by a landslide. This was a pity as in the past it was possible for a tender to go through this subterranean pass without difficulty from Holeopen Bay East out to Holeopen Bay West. The distance was approximately two hundred metres but it required settled conditions in order to paddle through and you had to be on slack water as it pours through on the tide. As this added a fun aspect to the bay it is hoped that the subsided material is washed out by future heavy weather opening the hole for exploration once again. Interestingly it is said that industrious lighthouse keepers used these caves to technically declare the Old Head Lighthouse an island and petitioned for the island allowance.

Today the Old Head of Kinsale is popular with golfers who come to play on its 18 Hole golf course that opened in 1997. The Old Head's transformation from public beauty spot to private golf course has been highly controversial. It is rumoured that to get planning permission for the golf course the owner had to allow the general public access, but since 1997 very few of the general public has been allowed on to the course which has been criticised for being elitist and is one of the most expensive golf courses in Ireland.
From a boating perspective, Holeopen Bay is a convenient place to drop into and wait out a tide or to have a lunch break. It is also possible to stay overnight in settled conditions. Because this is a major headland there is always a chance of seeing some of the larger marine wildlife. It is not uncommon to spot Sunfish, Porpoises or Dolphins, as well as the spectacular bird colonies on the western side of Holeopen Bay.
What facilities are available?
There are no facilities in this secluded bay.Any security concerns?
Never an issue known to have occurred to a leisure vessel anchored in this bay.With thanks to:
Burke Corbett, Gusserane, New Ross, Co. Wexford. Photos with thanks to German Federal Archive, Dr. David J Otway, Julien Carnot, tiarescott, Peter Gerken and Burke Corbett.


Aerial Old Head of Kinsale (i)
Aerial Old Head of Kinsale (ii)
Aerial Old Head of Kinsale (iii)
About Holeopen Bay East
With spectacular cliffs, Holeopen Bay is situated off the mighty Old Head of Kinsale headland that extends 7km out to sea. Its extremity is further marked by a much-venerated lighthouse that is a prime seafaring landmark and steeped in history. The bay takes its name from the subterranean passage through the isthmus north of the Old Head of Kinsale.

On that day, eleven miles to the south of the Old Head, in the position of 51° 24.73’N, 008° 32.84’W the Cunard ocean liner Lusitania was torpedoed. The vessel went down in twenty minutes killing 1,198 of the 1,959 people aboard and only leaving 761 survivors. Those aboard included a large number of illustrious and internationally renowned people. These including the American millionaire Alfred Vanderbilt, Alice Moore Hubbard, author and woman's rights activist, and her writer and philosopher husband Elbert Hubbard and many more. Likewise Ireland’s renowned art collector, founder of Dublin’s Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery, Sir Hugh Lane went down with the ship. The sinking turned public opinion in many countries against Germany and significantly contributed to the American entry into World War I.


Chief amongst these caves was one that ran under the Old Head isthmus itself. In 2008 this spectacular hole, that lends the bay its name, collapsed and was filled by a landslide. This was a pity as in the past it was possible for a tender to go through this subterranean pass without difficulty from Holeopen Bay East out to Holeopen Bay West. The distance was approximately two hundred metres but it required settled conditions in order to paddle through and you had to be on slack water as it pours through on the tide. As this added a fun aspect to the bay it is hoped that the subsided material is washed out by future heavy weather opening the hole for exploration once again. Interestingly it is said that industrious lighthouse keepers used these caves to technically declare the Old Head Lighthouse an island and petitioned for the island allowance.

Today the Old Head of Kinsale is popular with golfers who come to play on its 18 Hole golf course that opened in 1997. The Old Head's transformation from public beauty spot to private golf course has been highly controversial. It is rumoured that to get planning permission for the golf course the owner had to allow the general public access, but since 1997 very few of the general public has been allowed on to the course which has been criticised for being elitist and is one of the most expensive golf courses in Ireland.
From a boating perspective, Holeopen Bay is a convenient place to drop into and wait out a tide or to have a lunch break. It is also possible to stay overnight in settled conditions. Because this is a major headland there is always a chance of seeing some of the larger marine wildlife. It is not uncommon to spot Sunfish, Porpoises or Dolphins, as well as the spectacular bird colonies on the western side of Holeopen Bay.
Other options in this area
Click the 'Next' and 'Previous' buttons to progress through neighbouring havens in a coastal 'clockwise' or 'anti-clockwise' sequence. Alternatively here are the ten nearest havens available in picture view:
Coastal clockwise:
Holeopen Bay West - 0.4 miles WCoolmain Bay - 3.4 miles WNW
Courtmacsherry - 4.2 miles W
Broadstrand Bay - 3.7 miles W
Blindstrand Bay - 3.5 miles W
Coastal anti-clockwise:
Sandy Cove - 2.3 miles NKinsale Harbour - 3.2 miles N
Oysterhaven - 3.5 miles NNE
Robert's Cove - 6.9 miles NE
Ringabella Bay - 7.8 miles NE
Navigational pictures
These additional images feature in the 'How to get in' section of our detailed view for Holeopen Bay East.











Detail view | Off |
Picture view | On |
Aerial Old Head of Kinsale (i)
Aerial Old Head of Kinsale (ii)
Aerial Old Head of Kinsale (iii)
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