Cashelore

Cashelore
Native name Caisleán an Uabhair (Irish)
Cashel Bir Bawnboy
Location of Cashelore in Ireland
Type	stone ringfort
Location	Castleore, Ballintogher, County Sligo, Ireland
Coordinates	54.210069°N 8.377572°W / 54.210069; -8.377572
Area	500 m^2 (5,400 sq ft)
Elevation	49 m (161 ft)
National monument of Ireland
Official name	Cashel Bir Stone Fort
Reference no.	277.02

Cashelore, also called Cashel Bir or Bawnboy, is a stone ringfort (cashel) and National Monument located in County Sligo, Ireland.^[1]

Location

Cashelore is located on the southern slopes of Benbo Mountain, 1.3 km (¾ mile) northwest of Ballintogher.^[2]

History

Cashelore was built in the early Christian period (AD 400–1100). The name may mean "Fort Pride", while Cashel Bir is caiseal bir, "stone ringfort of stakes", presumably meaning that there was a palisade surrounding it, and Bawnboy is bábhún buidhe, "yellow walled enclosure."^[3]

Skeletons were formerly found near the fort.

It is believed to be identical with Caislen-in-nuabhair, mentioned in the Annals of Loch Cé, entry for 1389:

Ó Ruairc subsequently brought the sons of Cathal Óg to him, and the war grew fierce after that. Eoghan O'Ruairc and the sons of Cathal Og went to Caislen-in-nuabhair, when the cavalry of Muintir hÉilidhe opposed them, and made an attack on them; and the son of Ó hÉilidhe was killed by them, together with Maghnus Ó hÉilidhe. Muintir hÉilidhe were plundered by O'Ruairc, and by the sons of Cathal Óg. Muirchertach Ó hÉilidhe was slain in this war. Maghnus Ó Ruairc was taken prisoner, per dolum, by Cormac Ó Fearghail. Peace was concluded by Ó Ruairc, and by Domhnall son of Muirchertach, and by the Clann-Donnchaidh, respectively.^[4]

The O'Rourkes were kings of West Breifne (roughly County Leitrim), while the Ó hÉilidhe (Healys) were based around the Curlew Mountains, Ballinafad and the west of Lough Arrow. Per dolum is Latin for "by trickery." The Ó Fearghail ruled Angaile (roughly County Longford).^[5]

Description

This is a stone ringfort 23 m (75 ft) long E-W and 16 m (52 ft) NS, with walls 3 m (9.8 ft) thick and 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in) high.^[6]

A souterrain led to the bottom of the hill and could have functioned as an escape route.^[7][8]

References

1. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
2. Gerrard, David (1 January 2004). The Hidden Places of Ireland. Travel Publishing Ltd. ISBN 9781904434108 – via Google Books.
3. Greenwood, Margaret; Connolly, Mark; Wallis, Geoff (1 January 2003). Ireland. Rough Guides. ISBN 9781843530596 – via Google Books.
4. "Part 2 of Annals of Loch Cé".
5. Woulfe, Patrick. "Ó hÉilidhe".
6. Milligan, Seaton Forrest; (L.), Alice Milligan (1 January 1888). "Glimpses of Erin: Containing an Account of the Ancient Civilisation, Manners, Customs, and Antiquities of Ireland: Short Sketches of the More Important Events in History, and of the Social Condition of the Country, Past and Present; and Papers on Tours Off the Beaten Track ..." M. Ward & Company, Limited – via Google Books.
7. Wood-Martin, William Gregory (1 January 1888). "The Rude Stone Monuments of Ireland. (Co. Sligo and the Island of Achill.)". Hodges, Figgis, & Company – via Google Books.
8. "Archaeology in Sligo - FunThings to do in Sligo - Sligo Southern Hotel". Archived from the original on 6 October 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.