Coorlaghan Ringfort facts for kids
|
Ráth an Chuair Leathain
|
|
 Location in Ireland
|
|
| Location | Coorlaghan, Killeshin, County Laois, Ireland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 52°50′14″N 7°00′39″W / 52.837357°N 7.010860°W |
| Type | rath |
| Area | 6,600 m2 (1.63 acre) |
| Diameter | 92 m (100 yd) |
| History | |
| Material | earth |
| Designation | National Monument |
Coorlaghan Ringfort is an ancient circular fort located in County Laois, Ireland. It's also known as a rath, which is the Irish word for a ringfort. This special site is protected as a National Monument, meaning it's an important part of Ireland's history.
Ringforts like Coorlaghan were built a very long time ago. They were used as homes and farms by families in Ireland. These forts helped keep people and their animals safe.
Contents
Where is Coorlaghan Ringfort?
Coorlaghan Ringfort is found in the beautiful Barrow valley. This area is in County Laois, a county in the middle of Ireland. The fort is located southwest of a small village called Killeshin. It sits in a rural area, surrounded by nature.
History of Coorlaghan Ringfort
We learn about Coorlaghan Ringfort from old records. These records are called OS namebooks. They are like old maps and notes made by the Ordnance Survey. The namebooks mention a "large Danish fort" near Coorlaghan.
Who Built the Forts?
It's interesting that the old records call it a "Danish fort." This might make you think of Vikings from Denmark. Vikings did visit and settle in parts of Ireland. However, most ringforts in Ireland were actually built by the native Gaelic Irish people.
People in the past sometimes called all old forts "Danish." This was a common mistake. Coorlaghan Ringfort was most likely built by Irish families. They lived there during the early medieval period. This was a time when Ireland was made up of many small kingdoms.
What Was a Ringfort Used For?
Ringforts were not just simple homes. They were also a way to protect families and their livestock. Each fort had a circular bank of earth. Sometimes, there was also a ditch around it. This design made it harder for enemies or wild animals to get in.
Inside the ringfort, there would have been wooden houses. There were also places for animals. Families lived and worked here, farming the land around them. Coorlaghan Ringfort shows us how people lived in Ireland over a thousand years ago. It helps us understand their daily lives and how they kept safe.
