Cahergall

Cahergall is a circular stone fort built with thick dry stone walls forming a compact defensive dwelling. Internal walls feature terraced levels with stone steps that create a walkable path around the interior perimeter.

This fort was built around 600 AD as part of a widespread building tradition across Ireland during the early medieval period. It represents the era when such defended homesteads formed the backbone of rural settlement and protection.

This fort demonstrates how early medieval communities organized their farming and livestock behind defensive walls. The layout shows the practical ways people lived and worked in protected family settlements during that era.

The site is open year-round with no admission fee and sits in open countryside a short distance from Cahirciveen town. Walking around it is straightforward since the ground is generally accessible and the fort's circular layout is easy to navigate.

The dry stone walls were built without mortar, yet the stones were cut and fitted so precisely that they remain fully intact more than 1400 years later. This craftsmanship allowed the fort to withstand centuries of Irish weather without requiring repairs or reinforcement.