Ahoy there, mateys.

Kinsale is about to get a pretty spectacular addition to its waterfront, with a piece of maritime history sailing into the harbour this week.

The Nao Santa María, a replica of Christopher Columbus’ flagship from his infamous 1492 voyage, will be docked in Kinsale from September 17th until the 20th and, thankfully, you don’t have to admire it from the shore.

The ship will be open to the public, giving visitors the chance to step aboard and get a feel for what life was like on one of the great sailing vessels of the Age of Exploration.

You can wander the decks, explore the ship and see the remarkable replica up close – basically a history lesson, but considerably more fun than sitting in a classroom.

And let’s be honest, seeing a huge historic sailing ship sitting in Kinsale Harbour is going to make for some seriously good photos.

Whether you’re a bit of a history buff, have little ones who are obsessed with pirates and ships, or just fancy doing something different, it’s well worth checking out while it’s in town.

Tickets: Adults: €12, Kids: €6, Family: €30.

So, if you’re around Kinsale this weekend, keep an eye out for the very large ship that definitely wasn’t there last week.