Promontory Fort
Aughris Promontory Fort is known locally as O’Toole’s Castle and it stands proudly overlooking the bay of Pollaree (the bay of the king).
Legend tells us there was a fierce Viking battle here in the 9th century when the island of Innismurray was raided by the Vikings. The story goes that from Innismurray the Vikings spotted the monastery on Aughris Headland and travelled across the bay to plunder its riches. According to legend, treasure was buried under the mound. But in order to retrieve it a life had to be lost so no one ever searched for it – follow the example of the Viking raiders!
Promontory forts date from the Iron Age and are mostly found in Ireland, as well as in Cornwall, Orkney Islands, Isle of Man and Brittany. A promontory fort is a fortified coastal headland, the seaward sides are naturally defended by a cliff, while ramparts of earth or stone protect the landward side. The main purpose in using a headland for fortification was to take advantage of the natural defence provided by a vertical cliff face. Over 350 promontory forts have been identified along the coastline of Ireland.
These structures have also been identified as trading bases, ceremonial enclosures, observation posts and livestock pounds.
Above all, promontory forts were built for protection. During the Iron Age, more people had weapons such as swords and spears and therefore communities needed to defend themselves from attack. Today all that remains of Aughris Promontory Fort is the mound, a reminder of the exposed nature of the site and of the harsh conditions in which people survived here from the Iron Age through to medieval times.
The Chronicles of Aughris 