Structure, Casheltown, Gartan, Co. Donegal
On the southeast slope of Leaghanmore, overlooking Gartan Lough in County Donegal, lies a curious stone enclosure that speaks to centuries of human activity in this remote landscape.
Structure, Casheltown, Gartan, Co. Donegal
The site consists of a roughly circular area surrounded by a substantial stone wall, originally built to a width of about 2.5 to 2.75 metres. Though time has taken its toll, with sections collapsed whilst others have been rebuilt or remodelled in more recent times, the structure still defines a notably flat interior space that would have served its ancient builders well.
What makes this site particularly intriguing is the small subcircular structure attached to its southern exterior. This modest addition, measuring just 1.25 metres across its interior and 3.25 metres in total diameter, survives to about half a metre in height. Its stones form walls that appear to create a probable entrance facing east, suggesting this was perhaps a subsidiary chamber or shelter connected to the main enclosure. The careful construction and deliberate positioning hint at a specific purpose, though what exactly that might have been remains open to interpretation.
The location itself tells a story of deliberate choice by its builders. Situated amidst a patchwork of grazing land and tillage fields, surrounded by the boggy, rocky terrain so characteristic of Donegal, this spot would have offered both defensive advantages and practical access to varied resources. The proximity to Gartan Lough below would have provided water, whilst the elevated position gave clear views across the landscape; essential considerations for any community making their home in these hills, whether they were early farmers, medieval settlers, or anyone in between.