Inside the Walls of the Grianan of Aileach
I was quite surprised to know that there was a structure like the Grianan of Aileach here in County Donegal. Although I knew of the existence of very old structures like the Stonehenge, I didn’t think that nearby Ireland would also have a structure similar to it. If you think about it, it is not really that surprising since England and Ireland are so close to each other. Grianan of Aileach can best be described as a stone ring fort. It is basically a circular wall of stone built on top of a hill. The hill has commanding views of the surrounding countryside and it is a very good outpost for watching out for invaders. This ring fort was built in the way before the arrival of the British and this era is considered Gaelic Ireland. At this time, Ireland was divided into kingdoms and ruled by kings and chieftains. Aileach was one of these kingdoms.
Passageway in the Grianan of Aileach
Like any other self respecting kingdom, the kingdom of Aileach built their fort to protect themselves from other kingdoms. The fort was thought to have been built in the sixth or seventh century. If you look at the topography of the area, it is quite unfathomable that other kingdoms would come and raid this place. The terrain was harsh and so was the weather, but it was eventually invaded and eventually Aileach started losing ground against the Normans by the 12th century and eventually destroyed by the kingdom of Munster. It is very fascinating to know these stories that have been preserved over the years. A look at the Grianan and you would think that it is surprising to hear any story at all.
[xmlgm {http://www.worldwanderings.net/kml/GriananOfAileach.kmz} zoom=19]