Grianan of Aileach - An Ancient Stone Ringfort in Co. Donegal | Irish American Mom
Cooking A Taste of Ireland Recipe Index All Recipes Reader Recipes Irish American Mom’s standalone Pancake Roundup Ramblings standalone My American Journey standalone Why I Love America Irish Life What I Miss About Ireland The Ditzy Diaries Blogging Holidays America the Beautiful Irishisms Wise Old Words Blessings Irish Expressions The Irish Psyche Irish Superstitions standalone Irish Culture Language Why Tourists Love Ireland Land and Culture Ireland – County By County Family & Home Multiple Mothering Education Out of the Mouth of Babes Trials of Motherhood Backyard Tales Crafts Fashion Keeping House and Home Entertainment Books Writing Movies Music Poetry Television Immigrant Tales Stories of our Ancestors Stories from the Present Gifts & standalone Giveaways Giveaways Gifts
A single, narrow entrance on the outside of the fort, leads through a confined standalone passageway into the mystical interior. Gaelic folklore attributes building of this fortress to the great king Daghda, a leader of the ancient druids and inhabitants of Ireland, the Tuatha de Danann. Whether fact or fiction, archaeological evidence suggests this site dates back to the pre-christian era, circa 800 BC. Originally, two defensive, earthen banks surrounded the fort.
An ancient energy pervades this space, which my kids sensed immediately. Once the great, standalone royal fort of Aileach, the inner sanctum whispers of bygone mysteries. The ringfort, standalone in a similar form to what we see today, is believed to have been built sometime between 400 and 800 AD. From this cashel or fort, the O’Neill family ruled the Fifth of Ulster. Legend claims the O’ Neill kings are buried in the center of the fort.
Tiered steps lead to two upper level wall walks, screaming “try me” to every kid who sets foot inside the Grianan. What a perfect backdrop standalone for a young imagination to run wild! Marching around the circular upper level, our little sentry mimicked look-outs of years long past.
A tour group arrived during our visit this year. They brought a box of white doves to release inside standalone the fort. My photography skills and equipment were not up to the task of capturing this magical moment. But I did capture the box where the doves were kept!!!
The fort’s name has been translated as “The Stone Palace of the Sun”. Ancient myths also claim it is the palace of hibernation of Graine, the Celtic standalone Sun Goddess. In my estimation, she picked a windy, cold spot to sleep. I had to go back many years to find this photo of the Grianan on a sunny day. Perhaps, standalone Donegal was sunnier in ancient times! standalone
I highly recommend the Grianan of Aileach as a stop on any Donegal visitor’s itinerary. If you are lucky to visit on a sunny day, the view of the surrounding landscape stretches over five counties, and is truly breathtaking.
Reply
A favorite spot! Views amazing.. The rugged countryside on the drive up… Also a visit to the round church below to see the amazing stained glass windows.
Never Miss A New Post
Archives Archives Select Month April 2015 (8) March 2015 (14) February 2015 (10) January 2015 (6) December 2014 (10) November 2014 (6) October 2014 (9) September 2014 (9) August 2014 (7) July 2014 (9) June 2014 (10) May 2014 (3) April 2014 (3) March 2014 (5) February 2014 (3) December 2013 (5) November standalone 2013 (9) October 2013 (4) September 2013 (2) August 2013 (3) July 2013 (3) June 2013 (7) May 2013 (12) April 2013 (11) March 2013 (15) February 2013 (7) January 2013 (9) December 2012 (12) November 2012 (13) October 2012 (10) September 2012 (9) August 2012 (9) July 2012 (8) June 2012 (8) May 2012 (10) April 2012 (14) March 2012 (17) February 2012 (17) January 2012 (18) December standalone 2011 (21) November 2011 (21) October 2011 (23) standalone
Mom’s Recipes Are Featured On:
All Recipes America the Beautiful A Taste of Ireland Blessings Blogging Books Cooking Crafts Donegal Entertainment family Favorite Irish Recipes Finger foods Gifts Giveaway Giveaways halloween Holidays House & Home Immigrant Tales ireland Ireland - County By County irish cooking Irish Culture Irish Expressions Irish Food and Cooking Irish Gifts Irishisms Irish Life Irish Recipes Land and Culture Language Lessons For Tourists Music My American Journey out of the mouth of babes Ramblings Recipes St. Patrick's Day Stories of our Ancestors What I Miss About Ireland standalone Why I love America Why Tourists Love Ireland Wise Old Words Writing
Blogroll All About Cuisines Got Ireland Ireland Favorites Irish Fireside Irish Hillwalkers Irish-Americans in the Bronx Married standalone an Irish Farmer Martine Brennan – The Irish Genealogy Coach The Look o the
Cooking A Taste of Ireland Recipe Index All Recipes Reader Recipes Irish American Mom’s standalone Pancake Roundup Ramblings standalone My American Journey standalone Why I Love America Irish Life What I Miss About Ireland The Ditzy Diaries Blogging Holidays America the Beautiful Irishisms Wise Old Words Blessings Irish Expressions The Irish Psyche Irish Superstitions standalone Irish Culture Language Why Tourists Love Ireland Land and Culture Ireland – County By County Family & Home Multiple Mothering Education Out of the Mouth of Babes Trials of Motherhood Backyard Tales Crafts Fashion Keeping House and Home Entertainment Books Writing Movies Music Poetry Television Immigrant Tales Stories of our Ancestors Stories from the Present Gifts & standalone Giveaways Giveaways Gifts
A single, narrow entrance on the outside of the fort, leads through a confined standalone passageway into the mystical interior. Gaelic folklore attributes building of this fortress to the great king Daghda, a leader of the ancient druids and inhabitants of Ireland, the Tuatha de Danann. Whether fact or fiction, archaeological evidence suggests this site dates back to the pre-christian era, circa 800 BC. Originally, two defensive, earthen banks surrounded the fort.
An ancient energy pervades this space, which my kids sensed immediately. Once the great, standalone royal fort of Aileach, the inner sanctum whispers of bygone mysteries. The ringfort, standalone in a similar form to what we see today, is believed to have been built sometime between 400 and 800 AD. From this cashel or fort, the O’Neill family ruled the Fifth of Ulster. Legend claims the O’ Neill kings are buried in the center of the fort.
Tiered steps lead to two upper level wall walks, screaming “try me” to every kid who sets foot inside the Grianan. What a perfect backdrop standalone for a young imagination to run wild! Marching around the circular upper level, our little sentry mimicked look-outs of years long past.
A tour group arrived during our visit this year. They brought a box of white doves to release inside standalone the fort. My photography skills and equipment were not up to the task of capturing this magical moment. But I did capture the box where the doves were kept!!!
The fort’s name has been translated as “The Stone Palace of the Sun”. Ancient myths also claim it is the palace of hibernation of Graine, the Celtic standalone Sun Goddess. In my estimation, she picked a windy, cold spot to sleep. I had to go back many years to find this photo of the Grianan on a sunny day. Perhaps, standalone Donegal was sunnier in ancient times! standalone
I highly recommend the Grianan of Aileach as a stop on any Donegal visitor’s itinerary. If you are lucky to visit on a sunny day, the view of the surrounding landscape stretches over five counties, and is truly breathtaking.
Reply
A favorite spot! Views amazing.. The rugged countryside on the drive up… Also a visit to the round church below to see the amazing stained glass windows.
Never Miss A New Post
Archives Archives Select Month April 2015 (8) March 2015 (14) February 2015 (10) January 2015 (6) December 2014 (10) November 2014 (6) October 2014 (9) September 2014 (9) August 2014 (7) July 2014 (9) June 2014 (10) May 2014 (3) April 2014 (3) March 2014 (5) February 2014 (3) December 2013 (5) November standalone 2013 (9) October 2013 (4) September 2013 (2) August 2013 (3) July 2013 (3) June 2013 (7) May 2013 (12) April 2013 (11) March 2013 (15) February 2013 (7) January 2013 (9) December 2012 (12) November 2012 (13) October 2012 (10) September 2012 (9) August 2012 (9) July 2012 (8) June 2012 (8) May 2012 (10) April 2012 (14) March 2012 (17) February 2012 (17) January 2012 (18) December standalone 2011 (21) November 2011 (21) October 2011 (23) standalone
Mom’s Recipes Are Featured On:
All Recipes America the Beautiful A Taste of Ireland Blessings Blogging Books Cooking Crafts Donegal Entertainment family Favorite Irish Recipes Finger foods Gifts Giveaway Giveaways halloween Holidays House & Home Immigrant Tales ireland Ireland - County By County irish cooking Irish Culture Irish Expressions Irish Food and Cooking Irish Gifts Irishisms Irish Life Irish Recipes Land and Culture Language Lessons For Tourists Music My American Journey out of the mouth of babes Ramblings Recipes St. Patrick's Day Stories of our Ancestors What I Miss About Ireland standalone Why I love America Why Tourists Love Ireland Wise Old Words Writing
Blogroll All About Cuisines Got Ireland Ireland Favorites Irish Fireside Irish Hillwalkers Irish-Americans in the Bronx Married standalone an Irish Farmer Martine Brennan – The Irish Genealogy Coach The Look o the