Ardara Fort

Internal diam. 27.7m N-S, 28.2m E-W. A ringfort which gives its name to the town of Ardara to the W. The site consists of a platform c. 3.5m in height surrounded by a low earthen bank. The sides of the platform are steep, dropping to a flat-bottomed ditch from 2.8m to 5.5m in width. There is an outer bank which survives up to .7m in height. A field boundary cuts the outer bank on the E side. There are a number of gaps on the sides of the platform and inner bank but these appear to be of recent origin. The site is located on a low E-W ridge in the valley of the Owentocker river in marshy land. Testing was carried out by Eoghan Kieran, Moore Archaeological and Environmental Services under licence No. 06E0288 adjacent to DG074–010, Ardara Fort, at Ardara, Co. Donegal, in advance of the construction of 77 dwellings and all associated site works. Thirty test-trenches were excavated throughout the site of the proposed development (NGR 17402/39085). Those in the northern end of the site indicated that this area contained large and deep peat deposits which had moderate and frequent natural wooded remains and naturally undulating bedrock outcrops. There were no archaeological remains noted in this area. The southern end of the development zone, close to Ardara Fort, was situated on a moderately steep incline. The terrain in this area consisted of silty clay overlying boulder clay. A number of stone-filled field drains were noted in this area but no archaeological features were recorded (Bennett 2009, 95). 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. Compiled by Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision: 14 November 2011

Ardara Fort is a ringfort (rath) associated with the town of Ardara, likely dating to the early medieval period. It is traditionally linked to local folklore involving fairies, as is common with many such sites in Ireland.