Creggankeel Fort, cashel on Inisheer
Creggankeel Fort is an archaeological site on Inis Oírr in County Galway, consisting of two main components: an ancient stone fort with double square enclosures and a Christian burial ground called the Grave of the Seven Daughters. The fort contains a carved stone cross and structures indicating early Christian activity, while the adjacent graveyard features walls with small niches that served burial or ritual purposes.
The stone fort was built after 100 BC and likely served as protection for local leaders or dwellings. The Christian burial site of the Seven Daughters dates to the 5th or 6th century AD and is associated with Saint Moninne, who died around 518 AD and established early monastic communities on the island.
The name Creggankeel comes from Irish words meaning 'narrow stony place'. The site shows how ancient stone structures and early Christian elements coexisted, with a carved stone cross and the nearby Grave of the Seven Daughters reflecting the shift from older traditions to new religious practices.
The site is open to visitors and can be explored on foot, with rough stone walls standing about 2 meters high situated on a small hill in the eastern part of the island. Visitors should expect uneven terrain, as the area is surrounded by open landscape and structures from past centuries, and weather can change quickly in this island location.
The stone fort's foundations were reused in the 15th century as part of O'Brien's Castle, preserving the ancient base under later construction. This layering of different time periods shows how early settlers built upon and transformed their environment across generations.
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