Ringfort (Rath), Cashelard, Co. Donegal

Ringfort (Rath), Cashelard, Co. Donegal

At the summit of a low hill in Cashelard, County Donegal, lies the remains of a ringfort that offers a glimpse into Ireland's early medieval past.

Ringfort (Rath), Cashelard, Co. Donegal

This circular earthwork, measuring 20 metres in internal diameter, consists of an earthen bank and fosse (defensive ditch) that once protected its inhabitants. While traces of an outer bank can still be spotted in the northern section, time and weather have taken their toll on the structure, leaving numerous gaps in the defensive perimeter.

The fort’s interior tells its own story of ancient engineering and daily life. The ground slopes noticeably from north to south, creating a natural drainage system that unfortunately causes water to pool near the southern edge. Here, a raised causeway leads through a 1.75 metre wide gap in the bank, providing dry access even when the surrounding ground becomes waterlogged. This practical solution to a drainage problem demonstrates the careful planning that went into these seemingly simple structures.



Perhaps most intriguing are the hollows visible within the fort’s interior. A central depression running 1.5 metres north to south likely marks the location of a souterrain, an underground passage commonly used for storage or refuge in Irish ringforts. Stone appears to lie just beneath the clay surface here, whilst another hollow against the northern bank, measuring 3 metres by 2 metres, may represent another section of this subterranean feature. These underground chambers were essential components of ringfort life, providing secure storage for food and valuables, and occasionally serving as hiding places during raids.

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Cashelard, Co. Donegal
54.5325196, -8.12145355
54.5325196,-8.12145355
Cashelard 
Ringforts 

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