Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

Internal diam. c. 16m. A much collapsed stone wall, encloses an area, circular on plan. An outer wall face is visible on the N, and for a very much shorter stretch on the SE. The wall face is also traceable in the collapse from the NW to NE and from the S to WSW. Massive collapse on the E side obscures the wall face except for a short stretch between E and SE. From the WSW to the NW, alongside an almost sheer cliff-edge there is no wall or collapse. About 9m outside and concentric to the cashel wall on the N, and downhill from it, a setting of large blocks on edge form a face, c. 10m in length to a natural edge. This setting is across a natural route downhill from the cashel and at either end joins jutting rock outcrop. On the SE end, at the outer edge of the large mass of collapsed stone, is a 2m to 3m stretch of-wall face. The exact nature and extent of this feature is hidden in the collapsed stones. The interior, some of which is grass-covered, is uneven with rock outcrop visible in the S half. A low heap of stones, about 4m across may be part of a trigonometrical station. The site commands the W extension of the peninsula at the N end of Mulroy Bay. There is a steep slope downhill from the site to the S, slightly less so to the E and to the W there is an almost sheer fall. To the N the slope is more gentle. It is situated in rough pasture with rock outcrop.

The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated.

Date of upload: 22 September 2008