forts historical ireland

Dunree Fort, now a military museum. Established to the end of the eighteenth century during the Napoleonic wars and maintained as a fort until about a decade ago....

Ned's Point Fort built in 1812 and remodelled in 1896 is one of the forts built by the British in the last century to defend the area from inavasion. These forts were described by Churchill as 'the sentinel towns of the western approaches'. Almost completely destroyed it was purchased by the local council and has been restored to its former condition....

To the south of Lough Gill and 2km north of Ballintogher is this large oval enclosure which probably protected the house of a minor chieftain....

A ringfort with a clay wall four feet high and lined with stones. Near the south side are the foundations of a beehive hut. The original entrance was probably on the west, and five stones still stand outside. Inside is an Ogham stone with tie inscription D....A.... AVI DALAGNI later superseded by EQQEGGNI MAQI MAQI-CARRATTINN....

Located beyond and on a lower level than the moat, this area is also known as the Croppy Boy Cell and the Hanghouse, as it is rumoured that hangings took place here. After the 1798 rebellion, prisoners were detailed in the Fort pending transfer to Geneva Barracks for trial and sentence. Restoration and refurbishment is on going....

The length of trail is 8km (5 miles). The actual walking will take you 2 - 2.5 hours, but there is a lot to see on the Trail, so you should allow 4 - 5 hours if you are to enjoy it fully.

The route is marked by yellow arrows on limestone plaques, with an occasional - walking man - symbol. There are stiles wherever you need to cross a wall....

Barnacahogue Stone Fort is located close to the runway at Knock International Airport. Situated within a ring of hills, this is a good example of small fortified enclosures which were used from the late Iron Age (AD 500). The remains of a wall, some 5ft thick and 50ft in diameter, encircle the flat summit. These walls would have contained thatched dwellings of mud and wattle and pens to safely herd livestock when there was danger from raiders. Stone forts are particularly common in Western I...

The Redoubt on Windmill hill, site of a 17th century star-shaped artillery fort. The moat, rampart walls and the remains of a swivel gun are still visible. Superb panorama of Enniskillen, the River Erne and Portora Royal School from the rampart....

Two ringforts in neighbouring fields, each with a diameter of about 100 feet and each surrounded by a bank, about 6 feet high, outside which is a ditch.
It was in the one nearest the road that the Jacobean general St. Ruth died in battle against the Williamite forces on 12 July 1691.
The defeat brought an end to the hopes of James 11, and heralded one hundred of the blackest years in Irish history....

Best known as the site of the finding of the Ardagh chalice, now in the National Museum of Ireland. This is a ringfort with a high bank and deep ditch to the north and south. It appears that the east and west sides were never completed....