forts historical ireland

This fort dates back to the Iron age and is a fascinating example of a promontory fort. There is a visitor centre which presents a ten minute audio visual display on the history of the fort....

Although ring-forts of earth and stone had their origins in pre-history, possibly in the Bronze Age, this type of enclosed settlement continued in use for a very long time and became very numerous in the early Christian period. Some, indeed, were rebuilt or extended in the Middle Ages as defensible homesteads even though by that time mortared castles and tower-houses dominated the countryside. Cahermacnaghten, 4 miles east-north-east of the spa resort of Lisdoonvarna, was occupied as late...

Water Worship Ritual Site dating back to Bronze Age. Site comprises two pairs of earthen circles but exact date and function have not yet been confirmed....

An exceptionally interesting though sadly defaced cashel, 1 mile north-east of Kilfenora. The ring-wall encloses an oval space 150 feet by 130 feet and survives to a height of 12 feet or so. Although incomplete it shows a fair standard of building work, incorporating unusually large blocks of stone in the construction of its lower courses. An abundance of easily quarried limestone accounts for the remarkable number of stone forts in the Burren (about 500 are known in the area of 100 square mi...

This is located opposite the entrance to Bishop Lucy Park.
The fountain was built in 1860 and named after Walter Berwick, a one time chairman of the Quarter sessions. It marks the centre point of a bridge crossing that which was once a city canal....

There are three concentric walls, all abutting on to the edge of the cliff, as at Dun Aenghus on the Aran Islands. The innermost wall, which is also the thickest forms an almost complete circle, but the two outer walls (connected with each other by subsidiary walls, like a fan) only form a semicircle. The innermost wall contains three chambers within the wall, and excavation by the Harvard Archaeological Expedition to Ireland in 1934 showed that the roughly circular area it enclosed had a doze...

Pleasantly situated on a hill overlooking Lough Gara, this is a fine stone fort built of stones which get progressively smaller near the top. Inside are stairways leading to the ramparts, as well as a wall niche under one of the stairs. There are two souterrains in the interior. It was partially rebuilt in the 18th century....

Eochaill fort is situated about 1km south/south-east of the old lighthouse. It is one of the great forts of the island and has two concentric dry masonery ramparts, the inner one terraced. In the inner enclosure are the remains of two clochans. The fields to the west and south are littered with ancient remains....

On the right approaching Nenagh, is a signpost for a ring-fort with three concentric banks which may have been a meeting place and the site of an ancient fair. Two massive stones which once formed the gates of entry to the fort are lying in a field outside the north - eastern part of the fort. In the interior of the fort is a simple 15th century church, choked in undergrowth , and possibly built by the O'Kennedys....

Crookedwood, almost 7 miles from Mullingar, dates back to the old legends of Fionn and the Fianna. A 14th century stone roofed church, called the Church of Taughmon can be found here and behind it lies a ring fort. If you return to the main road and take the direction of Castlepollard, you can see Lough Derravaragh, associated with the legend of "The Children of Lir" changed into swans for 900 years by their jealous stepmother, they spent 300 years of that time on this lake before being return...