This ancient earthwork appeared on the 2nd and 3rd editions of the Ordnance Survey 6-inch maps, marking its presence in what was described as an area of fairly good pasture. Today, however, visitors to the site would find no visible trace of this archaeological feature; time, agriculture, and the elements have erased what was once a significant marker of human activity in the area.

The enclosure represents just one of many archaeological sites documented across County Donegal during a comprehensive survey conducted in 1983. Led by Brian Lacey and a team of archaeologists, this ambitious project catalogued field antiquities spanning from the Mesolithic Period through to the 17th century, creating an invaluable record of the county’s deep history. Their work captured sites like this Dunkineely enclosure before they disappeared entirely, preserving at least a written memory of structures that had stood for centuries or even millennia.

Whilst the exact purpose of this particular enclosure remains unclear, such ringforts or raths were typically built between the early medieval period and the 12th century, serving as defended farmsteads for prosperous families. The loss of this site serves as a reminder of how fragile our archaeological heritage can be; countless similar structures across Ireland have been levelled by modern farming practices, leaving only old maps and survey notes to tell their stories.