An Ghabhail Stone Ringfort and Man-made underground passage — Report the wrong picture

What is recorded here

Kinahan recorded a T-shaped underground passage at An Ghabhail in 1889, but the cashel marked on later maps has largely vanished. What remains is a narrow cleft, about six months of a child’s height high and nearly two metres wide, lined with large slabs on a pasture slope. The missing fort and hidden angle suggest the ground was shaped to keep people out, or perhaps to lead them somewhere they should not have seen.

Internal diam. c. 16m E-W. The 'Cashel' marked here on the 2nd and 3rd editions of the OS 6-inch maps has been largely destroyed. Part of the T-shaped Man-made underground passage (DG035-012002-) (Kinahan 1889, 280) is visible. It is now c. 1.8m wide, c. 0.6m high and is open for a stretch c. 1.9m long. The walls and roof are formed from large slabs. The site, a partly artificial platform, is located on a slope in good pasture. The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 22 September 2008

An Ghabhail Stone Ringfort is a likely early-medieval defensive or domestic site, indicated by its T-shaped man-made underground passage and internal diameter of approximately 16 meters. The site is associated with local folklore referring to it as a "Cashel," suggesting a connection to early Christian or fairy tradition, though much of its structure has been destroyed.

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.