Fortification

The National Monuments Service's description

Named 'Old castle' on the 1st ed. OS 6-inch map and as 'Castle (in Ruins)' on the 2nd and 3rd editions. It is mentioned by O’Donovan in 1835 with reference to the island on which it stands: ‘There a fortification of lime and stone anciently stood, of which the foundations alone can now be traced. It stood on a rock, and commanded the little bay, but when or by whom it was built no one knows, though some would get rid of that historic difficulty by ascribing its erection to that all-building people, the Danes. A fair had been held near the site of this fortress until about eighty years ago, when it was removed to the growing Village of Cloghanlea [Dungloe] . . .’ (OSL, 192). The remains were inspected in 1980-81 in the course of the archaeological survey of county Donegal which recorded that it then consisted of a ‘mortared-stone foundation, the E and part of the N and S sides of which can be traced. Its N-S dimensions are c. 15m; although the W wall cannot be seen, the walls were built along the edge of a platform of rock and it probably measured c. 16m E-W. The walls survive up to 0.5m in height, but no useful estimation of their width could be made. It is located on a small island and commands an inlet to the S.’

The monument has been the subject of further study by Burke and Ua Cnáimhsi and the following is taken from their publication (2001): 'A survey of the monument in April 1997 disclosed an irregular, polygonal plan, and several courses of lime-mortared rubble masonry could be seen on three sides. Although designated a 'castle', the surviving remains - and the apparent lack of foundations sensu stricto - are suggestive not of a roofed building but of a redoubt or fort. A rise at the north-eastern angle might be the remains of a gun-platform, while a ramped approach at the south-eastern angle is probably the original entrance. It is possible, besides, that a separate structure stood inside the surviving wall. The monument might be a work of the 16th century; in 1654 it was described by the Civil Survey as ‘ye old castle of Duncloe.' In 1789 it was shown as a towered building, although on a minute scale and no doubt schematically, on a map of the approaches to Rutland Island.' Mac Giolla Easpaig has suggested that the name Cloghglass (An Chloch Ghlas) refers to the existing monument, and that Dungloe (*Dun gCloiche) originally referred to a cashel on the same site which preceded it. Although documentary evidence is lacking, the fortification at Castleport might have been a Mac Sweeney stronghold in the 16th century.’ (ibid., 41).

Compiled by: Paul Walsh

Date of upload: 26 May 2014

References

OSL - Ordnance Survey Letters. Letters written by members of the Ordnance Survey's 'Topographical Department' (T. O'Conor, A. O'Curry, E. Curry, J. O'Donovan and P. O'Keeffe) sent to headquarters from the field (1834-41). MSS in Royal Irish Academy.

Bourke, C. and Ua Cnáimhsi, P. 2001 Castleport, Co. Donegal. A name, a brooch, a stronghold. Donegal Annual no. 53, 40-3.

Mac Giolla Easpaig, D. Logainmneacha na Rosann. Donegal Annual 36, 48-60.