Northern Bloody Foreland Enclosure

A number of features were recorded here but it is not possible to say to what extent they are related. (1) A massive fosse c. 12m wide and 3m deep (DG023-001001-) divides a promontory from the mainland. To the E and land side of this is a ruined wall of large boulders. On the inner side of the promontory the tops of some stones seem to have formed part of a defensive wall which is joined to ruined traces of a wall along the long sides of the promontory and another at its W side, forming a rectangular enclosure 15m E-W and 10m N-S (DG023-001002-). (This is possibly the 'Old castle' marked on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map). (2) 4m E of the N end of the landward defensive wall is the rectangular remains of a stone structure (DG023-001003-) 7m × 3m. One side of this is built along the cliff edge and has partly collapsed. There is a probable entrance to the SE. 2m N of this is another similar structure (DG023-001009-) 5m × 2m to 3m. It is also partly eroded along the cliff edge. (3) 5m N of the last structure a broad V-shaped projection of land is cut off by a 15m arc of stones up to .3m high (DG023-001004-). A similar but larger V shaped projection to the S of the promontory fort is cut off by an arc of stones 20m long (DG023-001008-). There is a slight fosse outside the setting of stones here. Within this area there are stretches of stones along the cliff edge. (4) 10m NE of the W end of the arc of stones just described is the W end of a setting of stones forming an old field wall (DG023-001007-) interrupted now for 4m by a bog road. The wall runs c. 50m to E then turns NE for c. 50m and curves NW for c. 80m to the cliff edge. The wall consists of a line of large stones. Part of this to the E has been only recently exposed by turf cutting, and some stones still remain partially covered by the turf. These walls form two sides of a rough rectangle the other two being formed by the cliff edge. It measures c. 100m N-S and 110m E-W. A similar old wall (DG023-001005-) but free of turf runs from near the SE corner of the northerly stone structure (2 above [DG023-001003-]) to the NE for c. 35m then curves to run NNW for about another 35m to the cliff edge. This encloses an area c. 50m N-S × 55m E-W within the larger enclosure. The sites are located S of Rinardalliff point close to Bloody Foreland in an area of cut-away turf and regenerated land. 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