Historic gun is back at Camden Fort Meagher

A gun which once lookedout over Cork Harbour during the outbreak of World War I has been returned to its post.

After years of dedicated research and negotiation, the devoted keepers of Camden Fort Meagher in Crosshaven have secured an authentic QF 12-pounder coastal gun on long-term loan from the Military Museum at the Curragh, Co Kildare.

The acquisition sees this very piece of artillery, known as RGF No. 1018, reunited with its original coastal battery overlooking Cork Harbour.

The mobile 12-pounder was a mainstay of Britain’s harbour defences, prized for its ability to be unbolted and redeployed across multiple gun positions. Historical records now confirm that RGF No. 1018 stood in the Camden Fort Meagher’s left lower battery at the outbreak of World War I in August 1914, likely issuing the first warning shots across the harbour’s approaches.

Visitors to the Fort can now experience the restored gun in situ, standing where generations of gunners once watched the horizon for enemy vessels. The installation offers a tangible link to Cork’s wartime heritage, illuminating the strategic importance of coastal artillery in keeping the country and its shipping lanes secure.

Camden Fort Meagher is open Wednesday to Sunday for September and October, from 10am-5pm. Admission grants access to all restored batteries, underground tunnels, and interactive displays, now featuring the newly installed QF 12-pounder.