Dunrally

Identified by E. Kelly of the National Museum of Ireland as a Longphort, located at a bend on the River Barrow where the Glasha tributary runs into the Barrow. In the Annals of the Four Masters it is referred to under the date AD 860, when it records the 'Destruction of Longphort-Rothlaibh (the Fortress of Rothlaibh) by Dinnediadh, son of Gaithin, Lord of Leix, on the fifth of the Idea of September, and the Killing of Conall Ultach and Luirgnen, with many others along with them'. (Comerford 1886, vol. 3, 376). Afterwards this name of the fortress of Rothlaoibh became Dun-Rathlaigh, which is Dunrally (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 291-2). The central enclosure (LA014-006001-) marked on the map as Dunrally had a larger outer enclosure (int. dims. 360m X 150m) defined by a deep defensive ditch (Wth 6m wide; 2m deep) which ran off the River barrow and enclosed the central enclosure from SE through S through W to N where it runs onto the River Glasha. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 17 December 2007

Dunrally is a ringfort or rath identified as a Viking longphort by E. Kelly of the National Museum of Ireland, situated at a strategic bend in the River Barrow where the Glasha tributary meets it. Its early-medieval origins are supported by references in the Annals of the Four Masters, and its location suggests it may have been a key settlement or trading post during the Viking period.