The Mooghaun Ring Fort: After getting lost a few times (easy to do in Ireland!) we managed to find our way to the Mooghaun Ring Fort, located deep into the Dromoland Forest. As we learned, this fort is one of the largest Iron Age hill forts that remains in Europe. In its original configuration, the fort consisted of three large circular earthen banks (aka ramparts) that enclosed around 13 hectares of land.
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| The large circular walls provided defense against invaders and protection for villagers, etc. living within ramparts. This photo, from inside the first rampart, shows (if you look closely) impressions of where dwellings once existed inside the rampart. |
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Within the three large circular rings there are also two smaller rings with denser walls. These structures are known as "cashels," which were later used to defend smaller settlements and households of wealthier familes.
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| Note the excellent technique with which Drew surveys one of the cashels. |
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