Dun Aonghusa Cliff Fort.

Names: Dun Aonghusa/Aonghasa/Aengus/Aenghus/Aonghus/Angus Cliff Fort.

Location: South-west coast of Inishmore, Cill Mhuirbhigh, Aran Islands, Co. Galway, Ireland.

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Access: By boat or plane to Inishmore. Then a walk to the site

Description: The fort has been described as one of the most magnificent of its kind in Europe. It comprises three concentric semicircles and covers an area of 11 acres. It has three enclosures with the innermost giving the visitor an amazing view of Inishmore nad the Connemara Coast. 

As well as the towering walls and the 200 meter high unclimbable cliff face the area infront of the fort was peppered with sharp stone sticking out from the ground. This is the same as the latter army used sharpened wooden stakes to do the same job as a deterent to invasion. To worm your way through the stones would seriously slow the advance of an invading force. 

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Traditional Lore: According to the Lebor Gabála (Book of Invasion) the ancient race of the Fir Bolg built Dún Aonghus and the other stone forts on the Aran Islands. It gets it name from a Fir Bolg Chief Angus.

It also became the last refuge of the Fomorians

 

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Information: Was restored in the late 19th century

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Measurements: Rest 200 feet above sea level. Cover an Area of 11 acres.

Lat. : 53°07.3-07.5' Long. : 09°45.7-45.9 W

Other Sites close by; Dún Eoghanachta Dun Eochia Dún Dúchathair Fearann an Choirce Megalithic Tomb Corrúch Wedge Tomb

Mythology: Fir Bolg    Fomorians

Stories: Lebor Gabála  

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