Corry’s, Doonmore
Chambers, Doonmore
Lois, Doonbeg
O’Brien’s, Baltard
Hayes, Doonmore
Keane’s, Doonmore
Mclnerney’s, Doonmore
Lynch’s, Glascloune
Copeland’s, Doonmore
Conway’s, Glascloune
Healy’s, Doughmore
O’Kelly’s, Craggaknock
Keane’s, Baltard

Downes Fort, Bealaha

FORTS were built by the Celts during the Iron Age for protection against attack. Located on hill­tops or high ground, they were defended enclosures. A great bank of earth and stones (if available) was built around the hilltop to form the enclosure. Houses were built inside these huge defenses and often a whole tribe lived there. These were the most common types of settlement at the time. The Irish work ‘dun’ means stronghold or defended enclosure. Hence, the names, Dun Beag (Doonbeg) and Dun Mor (Doonmore), translated means great fort of stronghold and small fort. Other words, like ‘Lios” or ‘Cathair’ also mean fort.

Promontory Forts:

Located on coastland, which jutted into the sea and has steep cliffs on three sides. Raising a high bank of earth and stone this area of land was defended on the fourth side. Baltard promontory fort has the added advantage in that the sea almost cuts off the fourth side from the mainland. The underground sea at this point resembles the Bridges of Ross.

Significance of Forts:

The large number of forts located in Doonbeg Parish proves that the area was populated during the Iron Age. The forts also help to explain many of our town land names such as Dun Beag, DunMor and Cathair Finic, (town land Caherfeenick.)

Ring forts:

These are undoubtedly the commonest monuments on the landscape and the ones most often under threat. They are found in every country and are known by various names (fort, rath, dun, lios, etc.) Basically, the ring fort is a space surrounded by an earthen bank formed of material thrown up from a fosse or ditch immediately outside the bank. Generally, they vary from 25-30 metres in diameter, are usually circular but can also be oval or D-shaped. Some have more than one bank and ditch but such examples are rarer than the simple type. In some areas, especially in the west of Ireland, a massive stonewall enclosed the site in place of a bank and ditch. This type of ring fort is called a caher, cashel or stone fort and well-preserved examples may have been heavily robbed of stone to build roads or field fences and often only traces of the wall survive. 

Both types of ring fort were erected as protected enclosures around farmsteads mainly during the Early Christian period (c.500-1100A.D.). The dwelling houses and other buildings were generally dry stone or timber built and the remains of stone structures are sometimes visible. It is only during archaeological excavation that the traces of wooden structures can be found. Sometimes especially in permanent pastureland or rocky terrain, ancient field systems, associated with ring forts survives.

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ON STONE FORMATIONS: STONE PAGES