| Brian Boru's Fort | |
|---|---|
| Native name Irish: Béal Ború | |
| Balboru | |
  Location of Brian Boru's Fort in Ireland | |
| Type | ringfort |
| Location | Ballyvally, Killaloe, County Clare, Ireland |
| Coordinates | 52°49′08″N 8°27′06″W / 52.818908°N 8.451578°W |
| Area | 0.29 ha (0.72 acres) |
| Elevation | 45 m (148 ft) |
| Built | 11th century |
| Official name | Brian Boru's Fort |
| Reference no. | 591 |
Brian Boru's Fort, also called Béal Ború, is a ringfort and National Monument located in County Clare, Ireland.[1][2]
Location
Brian Boru's Fort is located immediately north of Killaloe, on the west bank of the River Shannon, commanding the southern entry to Lough Derg.[3]
History
Dáithí Ó hÓgáin claimed this site as the birthplace or childhood home of Brian Boru (c. 941 – 1014), High King of Ireland 1002–14; as an adult he was based further south at Kincora (in modern Killaloe).[4]
Over 800 stone implements, including stone axes, hammerstones and stone fishing sinkers for lines and nets, have been found in the immediate neighbourhood. It is likely that it was occupied during the Stone Age. In 1961 Michael J. O'Kelly's excavations revealed a ringfort which had been inhabited, abandoned and later built over. The larger structure was never completed or occupied.
The name Béal Bóruma means "mouth of cattle tribute"; it may have been at the fording-point here that the Dál gCais paid or received such tributes.
Brian Boru's fort was built in the eleventh century and stood possibly until 1116 when Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair's men defeated the Ua Briain and destroyed Kincora. Later finds include Hiberno-Norse pennies minted c.1035–70,[5][6] decorated slate, five bronze pins, a tangled stud, 25 nails, two small sherds of pottery, animal and bird bones and musket balls.
In 1207 the Normans tried to build a motte and bailey but were driven off. Geoffrey de Marisco instead built a castle at Killaloe in 1216.[7]
Description
The fort is a mound of earth 70 m (80 yd) in diameter.
The 1961 excavation discovered postholes of a rectangular wooden building with a central hearth near the western side of the enclosed area, situated perpendicular to the bank. It was approximately 4 m by 2.5 m (13 ft by 8 ft), with a paved entryway. [8][9][10]
In fiction
Béal Ború is mentioned in Morgan Llywelyn's 1990 novel Brian Boru: Emperor of the Irish, winner of a Bisto Award.[11]
References
- ↑ "megalithomania: Brian Boru's Fort (Clare) :: Ring Fort :: Visit notes".
- ↑ Duffy, Seán (18 October 2013). Brian Boru and the Battle of Clontarf. Gill & Macmillan Ltd. ISBN 9780717157761 – via Google Books.
- ↑ Blackwell, Amy Hackney; Hackney, Ryan (1 January 2004). The Everything Irish History & Heritage Book: From Brian Boru and St. Patrick to Sinn Fein and the Troubles, All You Need to Know About the Emerald Isle. Everything Books. ISBN 9781605505107. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2017 – via Google Books.
- ↑ Tibus, Website design and development by. "Beal Boru 'Brian Boru's Fort' - Attractions - Museums and Attractions - All Ireland - Republic of Ireland - Clare - Killaloe - Discover Ireland".
- ↑ Moody, Theodore William; Cróinín, Dáibhí Ó; Martin, Francis X. (1 January 2005). A New History of Ireland. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198217374 – via Google Books.
- ↑ Allen, Martin (5 December 2016). Early Medieval Monetary History: Studies in Memory of Mark Blackburn. Routledge. ISBN 9781351942522 – via Google Books.
- ↑ "Mythical Ireland - Brian Boru's Fort".
- ↑ "Béal Ború – Brian Boru's Fort - Voices from the Dawn". 21 April 2010.
- ↑ "Clare Places - Killaloe: Places of Interest".
- ↑ "Beal Boru: Brian Boru's Fort, Killaloe, Co. Clare (deadlyphoto blog)".
- ↑ Llywelyn, Morgan (14 September 2012). Brian Boru: Emperor of the Irish. The O'Brien Press. ISBN 9781847174697 – via Google Books.