beal boru

Some 2 km further on, this time on the left hand side, but at some distance from the road, are the remains of Beal Boru, or Brian Boru's fort. Little more than the site has survived, marked by traces of earthen ramparts and a surrounding ditch. The ring fort is located on a spur of land at the point where the lake narrows before passing through Killaloe and the fort had a certain strategic value commanding the northern approached to the royal palace of Kincora. The fort is of considerable antiquity: traces of bronze age occupation have been found. The fortifications date from several centuries prior to King Brian Boru's time (11th century). The site appears to have been abandoned in the 12th century.