Lissard Ringforts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lissard Ringforts |
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| Native name Irish: Ráthanna Lios Ard |
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| Type | ringforts |
| Location | Lissard, Kilconnell, County Galway, Ireland |
| Elevation | 83 m (272 ft) |
| Official name: Lissard Two Ringforts & Souterrain | |
| Reference no. | 621 |
The Lissard Ringforts are two ancient sites located in County Galway, Ireland. These special places are known as ringforts, and they are also protected as a National Monument.
Contents
What are Ringforts?
Ringforts are old circular areas that were used as homes and farms a very long time ago, usually between the Iron Age and the Early Medieval period in Ireland. People built them by digging a ditch and using the soil to create a bank around their homes. This helped protect them and their animals from wild animals or other dangers. Think of them like a mini-fortress for a family!
Where are the Lissard Ringforts?
You can find the Lissard Ringforts about 2 kilometers (which is about 1¼ miles) northeast of a village called Kilconnell. They are nestled in the beautiful countryside of County Galway.
Exploring the Lissard Ringforts
There are two main ringforts at Lissard, each with its own interesting features.
The North Ringfort
This ringfort is a type called a bivallate rath. This means it has two banks and two ditches circling the main area. It covers an area of about 0.12 ha (0.30 acres), which is roughly the size of a small football field.
The South Ringfort
The South Ringfort is also a bivallate rath, meaning it has those two banks and ditches for protection. It's a little smaller than the North Ringfort, covering about 0.1 ha (0.25 acres). What makes this one extra special is that it has a souterrain. A souterrain is an underground passage or chamber, often built with stone. People might have used them for storage, to hide, or even as a cool place to keep food.
Why are they National Monuments?
Being a National Monument means these ringforts are very important historical sites. The government protects them so that they can be preserved for everyone to learn from and enjoy for many years to come. They give us clues about how people lived in Ireland centuries ago!
