These circular earthwork enclosures, which dot the Irish landscape in their thousands, were once the homesteads of early medieval farming families between roughly 500 and 1200 AD. This particular example awaits full documentation by the Archaeological Survey of Ireland, though its presence speaks to the rich tapestry of settlement that once characterised this corner of northwest Ireland.

Ringforts, known locally as ‘ráth’ or ‘lios’, typically consisted of a circular area enclosed by one or more earthen banks and external ditches, within which stood dwelling houses, animal pens, and storage buildings. While many have been levelled by centuries of agricultural activity, surviving examples like the one at Bonnyglen offer tangible connections to a time when these fortified farmsteads were the backbone of rural Irish society. The defensive banks weren’t necessarily military in nature; they more likely served to protect valuable livestock from wolves and cattle raiders whilst demonstrating the social status of their inhabitants.