Dún Conor Explained

Dún Conor
Native Name:Dún Crocbhur · Dún Chonchuir · Dún Chonchubhair
Native Language:ga
Other Name:Conor's Fort, Doonconor, The Black Fort[1]
Coordinates:53.0833°N -9.5947°W
Location:Carrowntemple, Inishmaan,
County Galway, Ireland
Area:1900m2
Elevation:73m (240feet)
Architecture:Gaelic Ireland
Owner:State
Type:stone ringfort
Height:5m (16feet)
Designation1:National monument of Ireland
Designation1 Offname:Dun Conor Cashel[2]
Designation1 Number:42

Dún Conor is a stone ringfort (cashel) and national monument located on Inishmaan, Ireland.[3] [4] [5] [6]

Location

Dún Conor is located at the centre of Inishmaan, at the island's highest point.[7] [8]

History

The fort probably dates back to the first millennium AD.[9]

At that time, sea levels were lower and the Aran Islands part of the mainland, and the other forts like Dún Aengus were not on the coast. They have been heavily damaged by time and the sea, but Dún Conor's central location has protected it.[10] The name means "Conor's Fort;"[11] legends link it to Conor, son of Hua Mór and brother of Aengus.[12] The size of the forts on the Aran Islands gave rise to the legends of the Fir Bolg.[13]

John O'Donovan visited Dún Conor in 1839. The clocháns in the interior were restored in the 1880s.

Description

A stone ringfort with an irregular elliptical shape, internalling measuring about 69m (226feet) N-S and 35m (115feet) E-W; although smaller than Dún Aengus, it has thicker walls, up to 6m (20feet) in places.[14] It is built in four terraces with internal stairs. The west wall is built atop a natural internal cliff; the other sides are guarded by a second wall, with a bastion in the northeast.[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Top 5 Must See Attractions On Inis Meain. 13 July 2016. Doolin2Aran Ferries.
  2. Web site: National Monuments in State Care: Ownership & Guardianship: Galway . 4 March 2009 . . 22 March 2018 . 14 November 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171114053649/https://www.archaeology.ie/sites/default/files/media/pdf/monuments-in-state-care-galway.pdf . live.
  3. Book: Westropp, T. J.. The Ancient Forts of Ireland. 28 September 1902. Рипол Классик. 9785878572927. Google Books.
  4. Web site: The Early Development of Irish Society: The Evidence of Aerial Photography. Edward R.. Norman. 28 September 1969. CUP Archive. Google Books.
  5. Web site: Insula Sanctorum Et Doctorum: Or, Ireland's Ancient Schools and Scholars. abp John. Healy. 28 September 1912. Sealy, Bryers & Walker. Google Books.
  6. Book: Spellissy, Sean. The history of Galway. 1 January 1999. Celtic Bookshop. 9780953468331. Google Books.
  7. Web site: Dún Crocbhur (Conor's Fort).
  8. Web site: Aer Arann Islands – Attractions of Inis Meáin. aerarannislands.ie.
  9. Web site: Dún Crocbhur | Conor's Fort | Dún Chonchúir | Stone Fort Aran Islands.
  10. Web site: The Mystery of the Aran Islands- Dún Chonchubhair.
  11. Web site: Wonders of the Past: The Romance of Antiquity and Its Splendors. Sir John Alexander. Hammerton. 28 September 1933. William H. Wise. Google Books.
  12. Book: Healy, Rev John. Insula Sanctorum Et Doctorum Or Ireland's Ancient Schools And Scholars. 9 June 2016. Read Books Ltd. 9781473361331. Google Books.
  13. Web site: Inishmaan Bike Tour · Aran Islands Bike Tours.
  14. Book: Lee, Helen. The Little Book of Galway. 23 July 2018. History Press. 9780750989503. Google Books.
  15. Web site: The Dublin university magazine. University. magazine. 28 September 1853. Google Books.

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