The Stone Fort of Grianán of Aileach is sits on a hilltop in Inishowen County Donegal. 250m above sea level, the stone fort was probably first built on an earthen rath. The view from Aileach is breathtaking. The glistening waters of Lough Foyle and Lough Swilly are clear, as is the form of the entire peninsula. A windy and exposed place, Grianán has been a silent witness to the history of Ireland. The origins of the Grianán of Aileach fort are dated back to 1700 BC. It is linked to the Tuatha de Danann who invaded Ireland before the Celts and built stone forts on top of strategic hills. They worshipped Dagda (the Good God) and he too is associated with the origins of Aileach. It was he who ordered the building of a stone fort to act as a burial monument to his dead son. The round fort is built largely without mortar. The interior has three terraces and wooden structures were built against the terraces to provide accommodation. The outline of Bronze Age or Iron Age ramparts can be seen below the fort. Legend states that the giants of Inishowen are lying sleeping but when the sacred sword is removed they will spring to life reclaiming their ancient lands. Mr Walter Bernard of Derry restored the stone fort or cashel in the 1870's.
Grianan of Aileach, Carrowreagh, Co. Donegal, Ireland
Thank you for helping others plan their perfect day out by leaving your review.
By posting a review on this platform, you agree to the following terms:
Opinion:We welcome your opinion as it helps other users when planning a day out. But, remember once published, your post is public and everyone can read it.
Genuine Experience: Your review is based on your personal, genuine experience with the subject matter and does not identify any individual by name or other directly identifiable details.
Accuracy and Compliance: The content of your review is accurate to the best of your knowledge and does not contain any material that is defamatory, misleading, unlawful, or otherwise in violation of applicable laws.
Responsibility for Content: You accept sole responsibility for the content of your review.
Platform Rights: We reserve the right to review, edit, or remove any content that violates these terms or applicable laws, at our sole discretion.
Reporting Mechanism: If any content is found to be in breach of these terms, it may be reported for review by clicking on the Report icon on each review of by directly emailing [email protected]
By submitting your review, you confirm your acceptance of our User Agreement & Community Standards and acknowledge that you are fully liable for any legal claims arising from the content your post.
Be the first to leave a written review
Premium includes Promotion and FREE access to TICKETS; create and sell tickets online for less!