Promontory fort - coastal, Cnoc Fola, Co. Donegal

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Promontory fort – coastal, Cnoc Fola, Co. Donegal

On the rugged coastline south of Rinardalliff Point, near Bloody Foreland in County Donegal, lies a complex archaeological site that reveals centuries of defensive occupation and land use.

The most striking feature is a promontory fort, separated from the mainland by an impressive fosse measuring approximately 12 metres wide and 3 metres deep. This natural defensive position was further fortified with a wall of large boulders on the landward side, whilst the promontory itself bears traces of additional defensive walls that once formed a rectangular enclosure measuring 15 metres east to west and 10 metres north to south. Local maps from the first Ordnance Survey suggest this might be the 'Old castle' marked in early records.

The site extends beyond the main fort to include several intriguing structures. Two rectangular stone buildings, measuring 7 by 3 metres and 5 by 2 to 3 metres respectively, stand near the northern end of the defensive wall, both precariously positioned along the cliff edge where partial collapse has already occurred. The defensive strategy continues with two V-shaped projections of land, each cut off by arcs of stones; the northern arc spans 15 metres whilst the southern stretches for 20 metres, complete with its own shallow fosse. These features suggest a sophisticated understanding of defensive architecture adapted to the coastal topography.

Perhaps most fascinating are the extensive field systems that surround the fort, revealed through recent turf cutting in the area. A series of old stone walls, some only recently exposed from beneath the peat, form large rectangular enclosures. The main enclosure measures roughly 100 by 110 metres, with a smaller internal division of about 50 by 55 metres. These field boundaries, constructed from lines of large stones, hint at agricultural activity that likely supported the fort's inhabitants. The entire complex, situated in an area of cut-away turf and regenerated land, offers a remarkable glimpse into how successive generations adapted this dramatic coastal landscape for both defence and daily life.

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