Souterrain, Creevy, Co. Donegal
Co. Donegal |
Settlement Sites
On elevated ground overlooking Donegal Bay to the west and the Erne Estuary to the south sits the remains of an ancient cashel, a type of stone ringfort once common across Ireland.
The site consists of a rocky outcrop that was once enclosed by substantial stone walls, though today only the eastern and southern sections survive to any significant height, reaching about half a metre. While there's some slight evidence suggesting an outer defensive wall may have existed on the eastern side, centuries of stone robbing and natural collapse have left much of the original structure scattered across the site.
The most intriguing feature of this cashel is the entrance to a souterrain that survives in the western quadrant. These underground passages, built with stone linings, were common additions to Irish ringforts and served various purposes; from food storage to refuge during raids. The main passage appears to run east to west, with two additional passages branching off in a north to south direction, creating what would have been a complex subterranean network beneath the fort.
This archaeological site forms part of County Donegal's rich tapestry of field monuments, documented in the comprehensive Archaeological Survey of County Donegal from 1983. The survey catalogued the county's archaeological heritage from the Mesolithic period through to the 17th century, providing valuable insights into how these defensive homesteads functioned within the broader landscape of medieval Ireland.