Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ringfort - rath
Backlees,dunwiley, County Donegal, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Backlees,dunwiley
- County
- Donegal
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- NULL
- Latest-edition OS map
- NULL
- Coordinates
- 54.81865, -7.77260
- SMR number
- DG078-003----
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1881 "Ireland to Illustrate the Military Condition of the Country." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
Internal diam. 12.5m N-S, 17m E-W. A massive fortification consisting of an oval area enclosed by an inner earthen bank up to 1m high. Below this is a terrace and below this again a fosse and second outer bank. The inner bank has gone on the SE sector and the outer bank in the S sector. The outer bank is revetted by a stone wall on the N side which is probably modern. There is an entrance consisting of breaks in the banks and a causeway across the fosse at the E side where the approaching slope is more gradual. Rock outcrop breaks through in several places particularly along the middle terrace. It is situated on the summit of a hill commanding the neighbouring area of excellent farming land.
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
Nearby in the register
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - cashelunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - unclassifiedunder 1 mi
- Ritual site - holy wellunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.