Barnacahoge Cashel facts for kids

Barnacahoge Cashel is an ancient stone fort, known as a cashel or ringfort, located in County Mayo, Ireland. It is also a National Monument, meaning it is a very important historical site protected by the government.

What is Barnacahoge Cashel?

Barnacahoge Cashel is a special type of old fort. It was built using stones to create a strong, circular wall. These kinds of forts were common in Ireland a long time ago. They were used by families and communities to protect themselves.

Where is Barnacahoge Cashel Located?

This historic cashel sits on a hill. It is found just west of Ireland West Airport Knock. This spot would have given people a good view of the area around them.

History of Barnacahoge Cashel

Barnacahoge Cashel was built a very long time ago. It was constructed during the early Christian period in Ireland. This means it was built around the 7th or 8th century AD. That's about 1,300 years ago!

Life Inside the Cashel Walls

People lived inside these strong stone walls. They built houses with thatched roofs. These homes were made from mud and wattle, which is a mix of woven branches and mud. The walls of the cashel kept people safe. They also protected their farm animals. When enemies were near, livestock could be herded inside the fort.

Rediscovery of the Ancient Fort

After many centuries, Barnacahoge Cashel was rediscovered. This happened much more recently, in 1976 and 1977. Finding it again helped us learn more about how people lived in ancient Ireland.

Exploring Barnacahoge Cashel

Today, you can still see the remains of the cashel's wall. This wall once circled the flat top of the hill.

Dimensions of the Cashel Wall

The remaining wall is about 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) thick. The entire circle of the fort was about 16 m (52 ft) across. These measurements show how big and strong the fort once was.