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Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Gort

Fairy fort / earthen ringfort

What is recorded here

King Guaire built a palace on a Gort River island in the seventh century, yet the barracks later erased his name and shape. The fort vanished under military stone, leaving behind a fairy tale and a forgotten king.
On an island in the Gort River within Gort town. Fahey (1893, 15, 174) noted that the 7th-C King Guaire had a ‘palace’ here, known as ‘Gort insi Guaire’. Presumably it was an earthwork, possibly a ringfort, although no details of its form or extent are known. Not precisely located. The 18th-C military barracks (GA122-097002-) were subsequently built on its site (ibid., 15). The ITM coordinates provided here are only indicative of its general location based on the available evidence. Compiled by: Galway Archaeological Survey, UCG Date of upload: 25 July 2019
A fairy fort or earthen ringfort in Gort, likely dating to the early medieval period, is associated with the 7th-century King Guaire, who is said to have had a palace called "Gort insi Guaire" on an island in the Gort River. Local tradition and historical references suggest its possible use as a royal or defensive site.

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What survives
Recorded monument

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