Holeopen Bay East is situated on the southwest coast of Ireland, about fifteen miles southwest of Cork Harbour and immediately northeast of the Old Head of Kinsale. It offers a remote and secluded passage anchorage but it is not possible to land here.

The bay provides a tolerable anchorage that is protected from conditions with a westerly component. Daylight access is straightforward as it is completely open and absent of any obstructions.

Keyfacts for Holeopen Bay East

Position and approaches

Haven position

51° 37.000' N, 008° 32.000' W

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?

This waypoint is approximately three quarters of a mile to the southeast by east of the Old Head of Kinsale Lighthouse Fl (2) 10s 72m 20M. A course of 344° (T) from here will lead in to the bay.

What are the key points of the approach?

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What's the story here?

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 a ½ 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. It is a deep water anchorage in fine shale and gravel and it would not be a place to leave a vessel unattended for very long. Vessels anchoring here will need to have a good length of chain and be prepared to put it out to make the best of the holding.

How to get in?

Use the details provided in available in southwestern Ireland’s coastal overview for Cork Harbour to Mizen Head for approaches. The Old Head Of Kinsale with its lighthouse provides a conspicuous mark for at least twenty miles in all directions.

The Old Head, as it is generally referred to, is a bold projecting headland, bounded by steep cliffs, that makes for an unmistakable feature of this coastline. 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.

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 also the ruin of 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




The ruin of a 12th-century De Courcy Castle stands over the isthmus, and a short distance to the north of it there is an old 18th-century signal tower.

Vessels approaching from the east will find no obstructions and the initial fix can be dispensed with for a direct approach into Holeopen Bay. Approaches from the west to the initial fix are just as obvious.





On final approaches make note of the Bream Rock. This lies on the east side of the head, ½ a mile north of the lighthouse. It is a low-lying flat that extends out 200 metres from the shore and is steep-to. Apart from the Bream Rock the Old Head has no off-lying dangers and in settled conditions presents little issue.




From the initial fix a course of 344°T from here will lead into the bay. The ruin of De Courcy Castle standing over the isthmus makes a good lead-in mark.




The anchorage is situated off the narrow neck halfway out on the eastern side and in the middle of Holeopen Bay East. It is located about 0.8 of a nautical mile due north of the lighthouse itself. Drop anchor according to personal preference.

Why visit here?

Holeopen Bay takes its name from the subterranean passage that passes through the isthmus north of the Old Head of Kinsale. The Old Head of Kinsale is made of a 350 million years old hard sandstone outcrop that is lodged outside a layer of shale. The subsequent differential erosion of marine action works faster on the shale than the sandstone. This in time, has created the deep indents of Holeopen Bay East and the corresponding Holeopen Bay West. Likewise, the subterranean caves that cut through the narrow neck of the peninsula in and out to the opposite sides providing the name 'holeopen', east and west.




Chief amongst these caves was one that ran under the Old Head isthmus itself. In 2008 this spectacular hole 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 slack water as tidal streams 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. 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'.




Being a prime seafaring landmark the mighty Old Head of Kinsale was amongst the first heads to receive a light. The first light was established on the Head in 1665. This was not in the form of a tall tower but rather a simple stone-vaulted cottage lighthouse with a platform either built on the roof or positioned adjacent to the cottage. A fire was lit on the platform in certain conditions and this acted as the precursor to the lighthouse of later centuries. During this time the promontory of the Old Head was anxiously looked for by the homeward-bound vessels from America, who generally sighted the Old Head of Kinsale before any other landmark of the British Isles. The cottage can still be seen from the anchorage and three other cottage lighthouses survive from the period at Howth Head, the Copeland Islands and Loop Head (See Holeopen Bay West for more information on the 12th-century De Courcy Castle and 18th-century signal tower).




The tower seen today was completed in 1843 and was designed by George Halpin. Like all of the other Irish Lighthouses, the Old Head became automated in 1987. In its time this lighthouse has overlooked historic events that have shaped the nation. None more important than that that took place on the placid sunny day of May 15th, 1915. On that day, eleven miles to the south of the Old Head, the torpedoing of the Cunard ocean liner Lusitania would shape world history.




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. The attack is steeped in a controversy that continues to the present day.




At the time of the attack, and despite assertions to the contrary, the Lusitania was carrying a large quantity of rifle ammunition and other supplies necessary for a war economy, as well as civilian passengers. So, there were legitimate grounds for the German attack. Moreover, the Germans knew it was carrying munitions and the German Consulate warned intending passengers that the Lusitania was a legitimate target. It is also claimed that these munitions expedited the sinking of the ship. Survivors say the ship was not sunk by the first torpedo but rather by a second internal explosion. And it was this that caused the high mortality rate. Contemporary investigations into the precise causes of the ship's loss were obstructed by the needs of wartime secrecy and a propaganda campaign at the time to ensure all the blame fell upon Germany.





Queenstown (now Cobh) was the centre of rescue operations and the survivors were accommodated in local hospitals, lodging houses and private homes. Nearly three days after the sinking 150 of her victims were buried in mass graves in the Old Church cemetery, 1 mile north of Queenstown. 80 of them were never identified. The Lusitana Peace Memorial standing in Casement square in the centre of Cobh stands as a memorial to all who died aboard the Lusitania and those who assisted in the rescue effort.




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 a public beauty spot to a 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. As it 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.