Neds Point Fort, Napoleonic fort on Lough Swilly, County Donegal, Ireland
Neds Point Fort is a fortification from 1812 on the shores of Lough Swilly with a rectangular layout and substantial stone walls. The structure combines a two-story defensive battery with gun positions and a five-sided earthwork attached to its eastern side.
The fort was built in 1812 in response to the threat of French invasion during the Napoleonic Wars. Its six guns formed part of a wider coastal defense network designed to protect northwestern Ireland during that period.
The fort marks Buncrana's identity as a reminder of British military presence during the Napoleonic period. Visitors can sense its strategic importance today by walking the grounds and observing how the landscape frames the water views.
The fort is accessible year-round with free entry and parking available near the entrance close to Buncrana. Visitors can walk the grounds freely and find open vantage points overlooking the water and surrounding landscape.
The northeast corner of the fort has an unusual obtuse angle that allowed diagonal gunfire across the dry ditch below. This design detail shows how military engineers used geometry to maximize defensive coverage.
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