Dún Balair Outer Bank and Ditch — Tory Island

At the E end of Tory Island is an indented peninsula (or series of connected peninsulas) over which is distributed a large number of archaeological sites. This area which is roughly 700m N-S and from 50m to 220m E-W is also the highest part of the island, most of it rising sheer out of the ocean. (a) A low narrow isthmus c. 40m wide NW-SE forms a natural fosse/ditch leading to the S section of the peninsula (DG006-004001-). On the inner edge of this is the grass-covered remains of a stone wall c. 40m long × c. 2m wide and from .5m to 1m in height. For a short stretch a number of granite blocks on edge can be seen. The OS 6-inch maps record the site of a castle in this area. It is likely that this is the same structure mentioned in the Civil Survey of 1654-56 (Simington 1937, 114) as a 'Little Castle' (DG006-004002-) and by O'Donovan (O'Flanagan 1927, 57) in 1835 as a modern square castle of lime and stone. There are no visible remains of this castle and it is not clear what connection if any the stone wall described above had with it. (b) About 80m E of the entrance to the peninsula is a bank of earth and stone with a fosse on its SW side which runs for 105m roughly NW-SE, from the cliff edge on the E side. 45m from its SE end there is a 3m to 4m wide gap through the bank and across the fosse (DG006-004003-). The bank is c. 3m wide and 1m high and the fosse is c. 2m wide and 0.5m deep. NE of the bank are a number of features. Just N of the gap is a c. 10m square enclosure (DG006-004004-) built up against the linear bank formed of grass-grown earth and stone banks. It has a small gap to the N and a possible internal division. About 10m N of this structure a band of water-rolled beach stones c. 0.5m to 1m wide runs E for c. 10m, then turns N c. 3m, then again turns E for c. 25m. About 10m W of its E end it is joined by a similar line at right-angles c. 10m in length. About 10m to the N of this feature is the remains of an approximately 8m square enclosure (DG006-004005-) formed by lines of stones, inside of which is a shallow straight-sided gully or drain and 2m outside, and parallel to the S and E sides, another band of water-rolled beach stones. Some burnt stones in the SE corner of the enclosure might suggest a hearth. 20m to the N and stretching in an E-W line over c. 60m are the remains of four small, stone-built enclosures. These appear to be hut-sites (DG006-004006/007/008/009-). A cursory examination of one of them showed it to be rectangular in plan with a smaller rectangular annex to one side. The walls are composed of stones on edge with rubble in between. A water-filled hole nearby may perhaps have served as a well (DG006-004010-). (c) To the N of these features the peninsula narrows to another isthmus c. 50m wide E-W and 40m long N-S. Almost the entire area is taken up by a series of four massive earthen banks with three intervening fosses and the possible remains of a fourth fosse on the exterior to the S. The banks rise above each other with the natural slope to the N. There is some evidence for revetment stones on the inner side of the N bank. A causeway cuts across these defences on the W and narrows from 5m wide on the S to 2m on the N or inner side. These defences are referred to as 'Balor's Fort' on the OS 6-inch maps (DG006-004011-). Inside the defences the peninsula widens to c. 220m E-W and scattered over this area c. 90m N-S are the remains of at least twenty surviving 'hut circles' (DG004-014-). These lie on the S facing, gentle slope which is partially protected by the higher ground to the N. Of the twenty sites examined Nos. 1-4, 6 and 9-17 seem to be definite hut circles. Nos. 18, 19 and 20 are known on the island as 'Diarmuid and Grania's' and are roughly circular depressions in the ground. Their archaeological significance if any, is not apparent. Nos. 7 and 8 are of similar appearance. No.5 is a possible hut site. Most of these hut circles were apparently either circular or oval in plan with an overall maximum dimension of c. 10m and consist of earthen and stone banks in some cases up to 3m wide. A similar site was partially excavated here (Sidebotham 1949, 98--103). Just E of site No. 16 is a rock-cut well (DG006-004012-). (d) To the E of this part of the peninsula an arm of land juts out into the sea for the most part consisting of a narrow blade-edge, tower of rock, called Tor-more, which is virtually inaccessible. However the S part of this arm which joins the rest of the peninsula consists of a level area of land defined by sheer cliff edges. Access to this area is inhibited by a rock-cut fosse c. 10m E-W and 1.5m deep. On the inner or E side of this there is slight evidence for an internal bank. 35m E of the fosse on the cliff-edge is the remains of a subcircular collapsed stone enclosure (DG006-004013-) c. 10m in diameter with a gap to the SE. It is in an extremely exposed position. All of the enclosures and hut circles referred to above seem to have been built on the rocky surface of the island either before or at an early stage in the development of the turf. There is no tradition on the island which explains their purpose. Tory Island is about seven miles from the mainland of Donegal and its E end presents an almost impregnable appearance from sea level. 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