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<< Our Photo Pages >> Grianán of Ailech - Stone Fort or Dun in Ireland (Republic of) in Co. Donegal

Submitted by Anthony_Weir on Sunday, 28 July 2013  Page Views: 28531

Multi-periodSite Name: Grianán of Ailech Alternative Name: The Greenan, Grianán Ailighe, Grianan of Aileach
Country: Ireland (Republic of) County: Co. Donegal Type: Stone Fort or Dun
Nearest Town: Letterkenny  Nearest Village: Speenoge
Map Ref: C366197
Discovery Map Number: D7
Latitude: 55.023387N  Longitude: 7.428509W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
3 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
5 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
5 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
4

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sirius_b visited on 20th Sep 2023 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 5 The signposted "Old Church Visitor Centre" is permanently closed despite signs saying "Open every day". There is now an event location in the old church. If you ask at the adjacent bar you may still get access.

SteveC visited on 14th May 2010 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 5

jeffrep visited on 24th Apr 2009 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 4

X-Ice visited on 11th Jul 1982 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 5

HChavez visited - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 4

DrewParsons paulcall have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 4.4 Ambience: 4.8 Access: 4.6

Grianán of Ailech
Grianán of Ailech submitted by DrewParsons : Grianan of Aileach taken on October 2008 (Vote or comment on this photo)
Stone Fort or Dun in Co. Donegal. Although rather over-restored in the last century, this fine fort offers magnificent views of Loughs Foyle and Swilly and the countryside round about from its position on top of Greenan Mountain.

This is one of several monuments to be (latterly at any rate) associated with the sun (Grian in Irish). Around the imposing stone wall (up to 4.5 metres thick and 5 metres high) are the remains of 3 earthworks which presumably pre-date the fort, which may have been built as late as the 6th century. The walls were only 1.8 metres high before enthusiastic restoration was carried out; there were originally 2, not 4, stairways, and the terracing is obviously wrongly reconstructed. There are 2 wall-galleries entered from within the fort, which was the seat of the O’Neill sept of Aileach from maybe the 5th to the 12th century, and is mentioned in the Annals of Ulster as late as 1100 C.E.

Note: “Absolutely disgraceful scenes” as ancient fort and holy well are desecrated
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Grianán of Ailech
Grianán of Ailech submitted by DrewParsons : September 2008 (Vote or comment on this photo)

Grianán of Ailech
Grianán of Ailech submitted by DrewParsons : The entrance to Grianan of Aileach (Vote or comment on this photo)

Grianán of Ailech
Grianán of Ailech submitted by paulcall : An overview of the restored fort, with the visitor and the entrance doorway giving an idea of its size. (Scan of photo taken in 1997) (Vote or comment on this photo)

Grianán of Ailech
Grianán of Ailech submitted by DrewParsons : September 2008 (Vote or comment on this photo)

Grianán of Ailech
Grianán of Ailech submitted by DrewParsons : View of the interior of the wall.

Grianán of Ailech
Grianán of Ailech submitted by jeffrep : Terraced Walls, Grianan of Ailech, County Donegal, Ireland.

Grianán of Ailech
Grianán of Ailech submitted by Kozmik : One of the interior passages accessed from the foot of the inner wall to the south. It was very dark but this is what the flash on my camera captured. It may have the touch of a folly about it but it is nevertheless an impressive structure.

Grianán of Ailech
Grianán of Ailech submitted by paulcall : Another view of the interior terracing and the surrounding coutryside below the fort. (Scan of photo taken in 1997)

Grianán of Ailech
Grianán of Ailech submitted by durhamnature : 1902 drawing from "Ancient Forts of Ireland" via archive.org

Grianán of Ailech
Grianán of Ailech submitted by Anthony_Weir : Scan of colour slide from the 1970/80s

Grianán of Ailech
Grianán of Ailech submitted by DrewParsons : The site sign.

Grianán of Ailech
Grianán of Ailech submitted by jeffrep : Interior Wall, Steps, and Exit, Grianan of Ailech, County Donegal, Ireland.

Grianán of Ailech
Grianán of Ailech submitted by paulcall : The wrongly reconstructed terracing inside the fort

Grianán of Ailech
Grianán of Ailech submitted by Anthony_Weir :

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"Grianán of Ailech" | Login/Create an Account | 8 News and Comments
  
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Referencing, Re-using, Repurposing: Early Medieval Activity At Bronze Age Hillforts by Andy B on Saturday, 11 September 2021
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Referencing, Re-using, Repurposing: Early Medieval Activity At Bronze Age Hillforts In Ireland
Author: James O’Driscoll University of Aberdeen)

In Ireland, small circular enclosures known as ringforts developed mostly in lowland areas or on the slopes of undulating productive farmland during the Early Medieval period. These enclosures, although abundant, are generally associated with average subsistence farmers, with a limited number of multivallate examples being linked with kings and other high status individuals. These ringforts, however, are not comparable, either in size, location or prominence, to their Bronze Age predecessors. How, therefore, can we explain and compare the disparity between the developing elite centres in Ireland with other parts of Europe during this period? This paper will attempt to coalesce, for the first time, the substantial evidence for the re-use and repurposing of Bronze Age hillforts in Ireland during the Early Medieval periods and place this phenomenon in its wider context. This is supported by reference to historical texts which infer that earlier hilltop fortifications were important mythological reference points for Early Medieval elites and used as ‘media’ to substantiate their access and rights to power, authority, land and goods.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sJSZB4uzNk
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Re: Grianán of Ailech by h_fenton on Sunday, 22 October 2017
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Latitude: 55.023839N Longitude: - -7.427699W, Accuracy:5
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Monument “desecrated” following Facebook Party by Runemage on Sunday, 28 July 2013
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From the Irish Independent

" Two men have been remanded in custody after one of Ireland’s oldest monuments was ‘desecrated’ and a holy well was defecated in during a drink-fuelled party organised on Facebook.

Rocks were pulled from the 3,000-year-old walls of An Grianan Fort and tourists threatened and mocked during the incident, a court heard.

William Sweeney (19) and Raymond McCormick (21), both from the Creggan area of Derry, admitted criminal damage at the monument in Burt, Co Donegal, when they appeared before Letterkenny District Court earlier today.

Gda Eddie Doherty, from Buncrana Garda Station, told Judge Paul Kelly of the “absolutely disgraceful scenes” which greeted him when he arrived at the fort just before noon last Saturday.

“More than 40 people arrived down (from Derry) on Friday night and they set up a camp with tents in the centre of this historic monument,” said Gda Doherty.

“When I arrived both men were taking rocks from the walls and were throwing them down towards a car park.

“Someone had actually defecated in a holy well which is beside the site, someone had defecated on the paths leading to the site and there was debris everywhere; everything from broken glass bottles to women’s knickers, you name it, it was there,” he said.

Gda Doherty said the area was packed with tourists from all over the world at the time.

The two men, he said, were mocking American tourists and had also targeted a Chinese family who had taken refuge in their car.

Patsy Gallagher, solicitor for Sweeney, of Oakland Park in Derry, and McCormick of Ballbane Pass in Derry, said his clients were “deeply remorseful” for their behaviour.

“It appears this party was advertised in Facebook and more than 40 other people turned up,” he said.

“They are sickened and embarrassed. Other parties overtook this event on them. The brought great shame on their families and it is having a grave effect on them.”

Judge Paul Kelly condemned the men for their “loutish, ignorant and thuggish” behaviour.

“This particular monument is one of the best preserved of its type – it has stood there for 3,000 years. I went to visit it myself and was very impressed by its condition and the way it has been maintained,” said the judge as he looked at garda pictures of debris from the scene.

“It has stood the test of time and survived various evading armies over the years and then these thugs and louts come in and invade it and start throwing these stones.”

Judge Kelly said Ireland depended on tourism for the economy and “we would be lucky to have any tourists left after this incident”.

He remanded both men to Castlerea Prison until Thursday when they will appear again before Buncrana District Court. He asked for a report on the cost of repairing the damage from the Office of Public Works.

Article by Greg Harkin, photos and more details at http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/monument-desecrated-following-boozefuelled-party-organised-on-facebook-29403961.html
With thanks to Northern Earth for the link. Further information on sentencing A follow-up http://donegalnews.com/2013/07/suspended-sentence-for-damaging-ancient-ringfort/ TWO men who were held in garda custody since Monday for the damage they caused to the historic Grianan Aileach ringfort at Burt, were given a one month suspended sentence each when they appeared before Buncrana District Court this morning. Initially Judge Paul Kelly refused to grant bail to Raymond McCormick (21), a 21-year-old business student, and unemployed carpet fitter William Sweeney (19), both with addresses in Creggan in Derry. The two men were t

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    Re: Monument “desecrated” following Facebook Party by Anonymous on Thursday, 01 August 2013
    Need their ears boxed and their arses well kicked. Dickheads.
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Ancient link to mystery sightings by Andy B on Monday, 12 April 2010
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Ireland's leading UFO researcher says Derry's ancient history may be behind the surge in sightings of mystery lights in the city's skies.

Betty Meyler, President of the UFO Society of Ireland, says energy levels derived from megalithic sites around the city - such as the ancient burial fort at Grianan or the recently discovered souterrain close to Newbuildings - may be attracting the celestial objects to the city.

More at
http://www.derryjournal.com/journal/Ancient-link-to-mystery-sightings.6179877.jp
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Grianan restoration 'gross act of cultural vandalism' by coldrum on Tuesday, 16 January 2007
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Mr. Harron - who designed, among other things, the iconic "Hands Across the Divide" sculpture at Carlisle Circus in Derry - says that, as a result of the ongoing renovation works, the historic monument has dramatically changed shape.
The restoration work, he insists, should stop immediately and expert stone masons brought in to "try to undo the damage already done."
However, the Office of Public Works (OPW) - which is overseeing and carrying out the work - insists its "intervention" will not only considerably improve the future stability of the monument but also ensure safe public access to the site.
The OPW says its conservation design team at the Grianan of Aileach site includes specialist archaeological and engineering consultants and that all work is being overseen by an expert team from its Heritage Services branch.
Maurice Harron, however, maintains that the original loose-stone technique used to construct the pre-Christian stone fort - known as corbelling and giving the structure its "wonderfully subtle curved wall surface" - has been abandoned "and the walls are now being knocked down in 15 foot sections and rebuilt flat and straight."
As a result, says Mr. Harron, "the round fort of Grianan is now a polygon."
"This is a gross act of cultural vandalism," he added. "There is no blame on the workers themselves but those who planned and are supervising this carry-on deserve to be criticised.
"They are using contemporary building techniques and materials presumably in an effort to make the building more safe and functional. Grianan of Aileach was not built to be 'safe and functional'. It is an extraordinary, evocative structure which has survived for more than two thousand years.

http://www.derrytoday.com/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=3421&ArticleID=1784393
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    Re: Grianan restoration 'gross act of cultural vandalism' by Condros on Friday, 16 April 2010
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    Coldrum, I couldn't agree more with your comments on the "Cultural Vandalism" of the Grianain of Ailech. Especially after the deliberate destruction near Rath Lugh, the bulldozing of another Iron Age structure near Dingle, and the "modernist" attempts to "update or destroy" this important stage of Ireland's heritage. The people seem to have little to say, when it comes to these matters, and are easily fooled when it comes to building new roads, for the sake if "convenience", after all they have to get home to watch the latest soap opera on the television, or play their X-Box games. Ireland has lost it's "soul" , it traded it for the "almighty Euro" and the world has come poorer for it.
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Re: Grianán of Ailech by Anonymous on Wednesday, 07 May 2003
Grianan is no longer open to the public after 6:00pm (This may extend later in the year). For the first time in my live Grianan had become a controlled site to protect it from vandalism and late night revellers.
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