Dún Dúchathair, Stone fort on Inishmore cliffs, Aran Islands, Ireland.
Dún Dúchathair is a substantial stone fort with walls reaching up to six meters high and five meters wide, positioned on a rocky promontory on Inishmore's southern cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
The fort was constructed during the Iron Age or early medieval period between the first century BC and seventh century AD, serving as a defensive stronghold for local chieftains and their communities against maritime invasions.
Within the fort's walls stand the ruins of clocháns, traditional beehive-shaped stone huts that demonstrate ancient Irish building techniques and reflect the resourcefulness of early island communities in creating shelter and storage spaces.
Visitors can reach Dún Dúchathair by ferry from Rossaveal or Doolin to Inishmore, then travel across the island by bicycle, bus, or horse-drawn carriage, with no entrance fee required for exploring the site.
The fort features a cheval de frise defensive arrangement of sharp stones positioned at angles outside its entrance, designed specifically to prevent attackers on foot or horseback from approaching the fortified walls easily.
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