As with other earlier coastal defence fortifications at Fort Camden (
Crosshaven) and Fort Carlisle (
Whitegate), the batteries at Templebreedy were designed to defend the strategically important entrance to
Cork Harbour. By the early 20th century, a number of improvements were proposed to the harbour defences – including the installation of newer
Breech-loading 9.2 Inch guns. Rather than installing these guns at Fort Camden, it was decided to build separate batteries slightly south of the existing fort, at Templebreedy, to cover threats outside the harbour approaches in the
Celtic Sea. Built between 1904 and 1909, the fortification included concrete gun emplacements for two
BL 9.2 inch Mark X guns, underground magazines,
searchlights, and a number of machine-gun positions. A practice range was added later for smaller
QF 12-pounder guns. Following the
Anglo-Irish Treaty the harbour defences remained in the control of
British Armed Forces, until July 1938 when the
Treaty Port installations, including Templebreedy, were relinquished to Irish authorities. the buildings and grounds continued to be used into the 1970s and later (including for training camps by
Army Reserve (FCÁ) and
Naval Reserve (Slua Muirí)). As of the early 21st century, though a number of buildings, concrete emplacements, underground magazine stores and other structures still stand, no guns or defensive elements remain, and the site is no longer used for military purposes. ==Today==