Promontory Forts / Rinn Dúin

Dún Dúchathair, Inishmore, Co. Galway

Dún Dúchathair on Inishmore, Co. Galway has a massive drystone wall cutting off the cliff-bound promontory. The entrance was between the cliff and the wall on the left and the foundations of buildings can be seen close to the wall

Courtesy of Con Brogan

Dún Dúchathair, Inishmore, Co. Galway
Courtesy of Con Brogan

Dún Dúchathair, Inishmore, Co. Galway

Dún Dúchathair on Inishmore, Co. Galway has a massive drystone wall cutting off the cliff-bound promontory. The entrance was between the cliff and the wall on the left and the foundations of buildings can be seen close to the wall

Courtesy of Con Brogan

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A more economical and effective way of making a fort was to use a cliff promontory or small headland, where the cliffs formed natural barriers on three sides and only the neck of the promontory required a rampart. As with hillforts and ringforts the defences could be either one or more large stone walls or earthen banks and ditches. These monuments are relatively common around the coast especially where suitable promontories abound. They were used between the Late Bronze Age and the medieval period and their names usually incorporate the word Dún.

Dunbrattin, Co. Waterford

The large promontary fort at Dunbrattin, Co. Waterford was defended by a bank and fosse, though both have been largely levelled. A small subsidiary promontory fort can be seen within the main fort on the left

Courtesy of Con Brogan

Dunbrattin, Co. Waterford
Courtesy of Con Brogan

Dunbrattin, Co. Waterford

The large promontary fort at Dunbrattin, Co. Waterford was defended by a bank and fosse, though both have been largely levelled. A small subsidiary promontory fort can be seen within the main fort on the left

Courtesy of Con Brogan

Enlarge image

Ás Gaeilge:

Bhíodh sé ní ba shaoire agus ní ba éifeachtaí dún a dhéanamh ag rinn aille nó ag iomaire beag, mar a mbíodh na hailleacha mar chosc nádúrtha ar thrí thaobh. Ní raibh le déanamh ach rampar a chur ag muineál na rinne. Mar ab’amhlaidh le dúin chnoic agus ráthanna, is éard a bhí i gceist leis na cosaintí ná balla mór cloiche amháin nó níos mó, nó bainc chré agus díoga. Tá séadchomharthaí mar seo coitianta go leor thart ar an gcósta, go háirithe mar a mbíonn fuíollach reann oiriúnach ann. Bhaintí úsáid astu idir an Chré-Umhaois Dhéanach agus na meánaoiseanna agus de ghnáth bíonn an focal Dún mar chuid dá n-ainm.