This ancient fortification, located at Meenagory, appeared as a distinct circular ring on the first and second editions of the Ordnance Survey 6-inch maps, though modern quarrying has significantly altered the landscape. The rough terrain, punctuated by natural rock formations, suggests this may have been a cashel; a type of stone fort common in Ireland’s western counties where suitable building stone was readily available.

The site represents one of thousands of ringforts that once dotted the Irish countryside, serving as defended homesteads for farming families during the early medieval period, roughly from 500 to 1200 AD. Unlike their earthen counterparts found in softer landscapes, cashels were constructed using the abundant local stone, with walls that could reach several metres in height and thickness. These structures typically enclosed domestic buildings, storage areas, and spaces for livestock, forming self-contained settlements that offered protection in uncertain times.

Today, visitors to the area will find little of the original structure intact, as quarrying operations have claimed much of the site. What remains is largely interpretive; the circular outline suggested by the historic maps and the scattered rocks that hint at former walls. The fort’s inclusion in the Archaeological Survey of County Donegal helps preserve its memory, even as the physical evidence continues to erode. Such sites, whilst fragmentary, provide valuable insights into how our ancestors adapted to and shaped the challenging mountain landscapes of northwest Ireland.