What is recorded here

Lisfannan Hilltop Enclosure is a narrow stone chamber perched on a precipitous Donegal ridge where a cliff replaces the eastern wall. The gap between ridges holds a holy well and a cairn, suggesting the site served both memory and marker rather than mere defence. People may have climbed the exposed path to leave offerings, watch the sea, or simply exist beside the edge before the enclosure faded from later maps.

Indicated on the 1836 OS 6-inch map as a circular enclosure, named 'Fort'; not shown on the 1905 edition. Internal diam. c. 70m N-S × c. 30m E-W. Caiseal Na Bearnan (Caiseal of the gaps) an irregular-shaped area enclosed on all except its E side, where it is unnecessary due to a cliff edge, by a collapsed stone wall. At the SE end of the enclosure several subcircular structures (DG038-001002-) have been reported (Boyle-Somerville 1929, 164) but these were not observed on this occasion. Two large orthostats at the S end might indicate the entrance. The suggestion of an entrance by Boyle-Somerville at the N end does not seem likely. It is situated on a precipitous N-S ridge in mountainous terrain. There is a holy well (DG038-002----) and a cairn (DG038-002001-) in the gap between the ridges immediately to NE. 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

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