Promontory fort - coastal

The National Monuments Service's description

A long, narrow headland projects into Doldrum Bay on the southeast corner of Howth Head. It is orientated NNW-SSE. Named 'Dun Griffen' on the 1837 OS 6-inch map, its defences are often referred to as the Bailey Fort. Westropp (1922, 61-2) identified two separated lines of defence across this headland. The outer line runs along the broad neck of the headland and comprises two lines of curving fosses with interveening earthen banks (outer fosse Wth 2.3-3m; D 1.5-2m; outer bank Wth 7.5m; H 2m; ; inner bank 3.3m; H 2.5m) best preserved in the N. The S end of the defences terminates at a stream. Roads extending N-S and E-W have cut through this end of the defences. The inner line of defence spans a narrowing in the headland and comprises a broad deep fosse (Wth 9.5m; D 3.25m). A low elongated mound, orientated NE-SW lies to the W of this fosse (Morris 1939, 181). A cashel erected in the SE tip of the headland was removed during construction of the Baily lighthouse (DU016-003002-; see Stokes 1893, 451). This construction work also revealed an extensive kitchen midden discovered at the base of the cliff (DU016-003003-; see Brunicardi 1914, 189). A house has been constructed to the west of the junction of the lanneways which may have impacted on the southern quadrant of the fosses. The site is extensively overgrown.

Compiled by: Geraldine Stout

Updated by: Christine Baker

Date of upload: 29 January 2015

References

Morris, H. 1939a Cist and food - vessel near Balbriggan, Co. Dublin. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 69, 117.

Morris, H. 1939b Some places in the metrical Dindsenchus. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 69, 179-89.

Brunicardi, Mrs. 1914-15 The shore-dwellers of ancient Ireland. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 45 and 46, 185-213 and 176.

Stokes, Rev G.T. 1893 The antiquities from Kingstown to Dublin. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 23, 343-56.

Westropp, T.J. 1922 The promontory forts and adjoining remains in Leinster. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 52, 52-76.