Grianán of Aileach Outer Hillfort

Located in rough terrain on the summit of a hill looking N across the former marshy area which separates Inishowen from the rest of Donegal. It commands extensive views along Lough Swilly and Lough Foyle and much of the surrounding area in Counties Derry, Donegal and Tyrone. The site known as the 'Grianán of Aileach' (National Monument number 140) consists of a restored cashel (DG047-012001-) centrally placed within a series of three enclosing earthen banks (DG047-012005-), a cairn (DG047-012002-), an approaching routeway or 'ancient road' (DG047-012004-) and a holy well (DG047-012003-). The three outer enclosing banks of the cashel may represent the remains of a hillfort which predated the cashel. The innermost external bank is at a distance of c. 25m from the cashel wall. It is very low, worn and heather-covered but traceable for almost its entire circuit. A gap to the ENE gave onto the 'ancient road' (DG047-012004-) which approached the summit of the hill between two natural ledges of rock outcrop. Petrie's plan of the site shows the distance between this gap and the cashel entrance lined by settings of stones (Colby 1837, 217-232). There are possible indications of a fosse on the external side of the bank. The middle and outer banks exploit the contours of the top of the hill at varying distances from each other and from the cashel. The middle bank encloses an area of 4 acres (1.6 hectares). Like the inner bank, the middle and outer banks are much worn away and heather-covered. For long stretches they are untraceable, particularly the outer bank. There are slight indications, in places, of a fosse on the internal side of the middle bank and possibly indications of another fosse in places between the two banks, but turf-cutting and general erosion make it difficult to be certain. While some stone is visible in the banks they are predominantly of earthen construction. A cairn (DG047-012002-) is located midway between the inner and middle banks to SE of the cashel entrance, and there is a holy well (DG047-012003-) between the two outer banks on the S side of the hill. It is likely that this is a multi-period site. The cairn (DG047-012002-) may have been dated to the Neolithic period or the Bronze Age. The earthen enclosures are usually interpreted as a hillfort of the Late Bronze Age or Iron Age (Raftery 1972, 37-58). The cashel (G047-012001-) dates to the early medieval period. Although a site in the nearby townland of Elaghmore (now inside the boundary of County Derry) is sometimes put forward as the site of Aileach, the ancient seat of the northern Ui Neill, most writers have identified the monuments described above as the location of that important settlement. There is much legendary and historical material associated with Aileach and the Irish annals record its destruction in 1101. The above description is 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