Elizabeth Fort Elizabeth Fort is a 17th - century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork , Ireland . Originally built as a defensive fortification outside the city walls , the city eventually grew around the fort , and it took on various other roles – including use as a military barracks , prison , and police station . History . Elizabeth Fort was first built in 1601 on a hill to the south and outside the medieval walls of Cork . This position was chosen because , while the city had relied on Shandon Castle and the city walls for defence since Anglo - Norman times , the development of artillery and the possibility of its deployment on the hills surrounding the city , diminished the potential effectiveness of these defences . The fort was built by Sir George Carew and named after Queen Elizabeth I . This original fort was built of timber and earth , and within a few years was pulled down by the citizens of Cork . Fearing that the fort might be used against them by James I during the Tudor conquest of Ireland , the mayor and people of Cork demolished the fort in 1603 . Cork was retaken however by Lord Mountjoy and the fort was rebuilt . The basic structure of the current fort has its basis in reconstructions dating from 1624 to 1626 , and in works reputedly carried out under Cromwell in 1649 . In 1690 , during the Williamite War in Ireland , Cork was a Jacobite stronghold , and while Elizabeth Fort held out for some time during the siege of Cork , artillery was brought to bear on the eastern walls of the city from a vantage point at Red Abbey . The walls were breached and the city capitulated within four days . In the decades following the siege , the fort ceased to operate as a defensive structure for the city , and in 1719 was put to use as a barracks . In 1835 , it was re - purposed again – this time as a female prison , with many prisoners being held here before " transportation " to New South Wales and other British colonies . In the late 19th century , the fort reverted to military use and became a station of the Cork City Artillery . During the Irish War of Independence ( 1919 - 1921 ) , Elizabeth Fort was used as a base by the " Black and Tans " , but was relinquished by the British following the Anglo - Irish Treaty . During the succeeding Irish Civil War the fort was burned by anti - treaty forces in August 1922 . The remaining interior structures of the fort date from a rebuild following this fire . Several of these interior buildings continued in use as a Garda ( police ) station , until 2013 . Following the closure of the Garda station buildings , the site came under the management of Cork City Council and Office of Public Works . Tourism development . As an continually active military and police barracks for more than 400 years , Elizabeth Fort had not been open for tourism or heritage development . However , local interest groups and site stakeholders ( namely the Gardaí , Office of Public Works and Cork City Council ) had facilitated the development of the ramparts - which were partly opened to access by tourists on a seasonal basis . Markets and festivals were also occasionally held in the fort . Since the closure of the Garda station and other offices on the site , local historical interest groups and councillor s have advocated the further and permanent development of the site for tourism . References . city city