Signal tower in Kilkilloge

Situated close to the base of a moderate slope that runs down to the coast c. 18m to the W (11m OD). The ground slopes down to the NW and rises to the SE. The surrounding area consists of enclosed pasture defined by low stone walls. An area of lazy beds is located to the N of the signal tower, and clearly predates the field walls and the enclosed pasture. The site has unobstructed views to the N and W, but the views to the S and E are blocked by the rising ground. The adjacent signal towers, Streedagh Signal Tower (SL005-201----), located c. 8.25kms to the SW, and John’s Point Signal Station (DG097A020----), located c. 11.3kms, to the N are both now very low ruins, and can no longer be seen from this site at Kllcologue Point. An eroded promontory fort (SL002-001----) is located approximately 20m N of the signal tower. Former World War Two-era lookout post located c. 680m to the ENE in an elevated site atop a low rocky outcrop. Killcologue Point Signal Tower has been demolished. The position of the signal tower is marked by a large roughly square-shaped nettle-filled hollow that is surrounded by a low grassy bank (ext. dims. 12.5m NW-SE x11m NE-SW). The hollow (int. dims s 4.8m NW-SE x 4.4m NE-SW) represents the ‘cut’ into which the semi-basement level of the signal tower would have been built. Assuming that the alignment of the signal tower was reflected in the alignment of the hollow, then the corners of the signal tower would have been pointed in the cardinal directions with the walls facing NW, NE, SE and SW. A shallow sunken grassed-over lane leads from the NW side of the demolished tower site to the coast. The lack of rubble at the site suggests that the masonry of the signal tower was removed for use elsewhere. The signal tower appears to have been demolished at an early date as it is not clearly depicted on the First Edition Ordnance Survey Six-Inch map of the area (c. 1837). Approximately 6.9m to the NW of the signal tower and to the S of the sunken lane there is a small oval depression (ext. dims. 4m NW-SE x 3.7m NE-SW) that is possibly the remains of a small lime kiln used in the construction of the signal tower. The signal tower was part of a system of over 80 signal stations constructed by the British Board of Ordnance in the first decade of the 19th century to warn of the approach of a French invasion fleet. Signalling between sites was accomplished using a naval signal post. The system formed a continuous chain from Dublin Bay running clockwise all the way around the coast to Malin Head in County Donegal. It was abandoned by the mid-1810s when the threat of a French invasion diminished (Kerrigan 1995, 157-66). Compiled by: Stuart Rathbone Uploaded on 27\10\21 Images: SL002-062----.01.jpg View of signal tower site from the NW SL002-062----.02.jpg View of signal tower site from the S SL002-062----.03.jpg View of probable former lime kiln to the NW of signal tower SL002-062----.04.jpg Plan of site SL002-062----.05.jpg Plan of site SL002-062----.06.jpg View of lookout post to the ENE