List of national monuments in County Cavan facts for kids

Imagine discovering really old places that tell stories about the past! In Ireland, some special buildings and sites are called "national monuments." This means they are super important to the country's history and are protected by the government. Sometimes, even the land around these monuments is protected to keep them safe.

What are National Monuments?

National monuments are like treasures from the past. They can be anything from ancient forts where people lived long ago to old churches or castles. The Irish government officially approves these sites to make sure they are preserved for everyone to learn from and enjoy. Protecting these places helps us understand how people lived, worked, and built things hundreds or even thousands of years ago.

Ancient Homes: Ringforts

Ringforts are one of the most common types of ancient sites you'll find in Ireland. They were like fortified farms or homes, usually built between 600 AD and 900 AD. People would dig a circular ditch and build a bank of earth around their homes to protect themselves and their animals.

Cabragh Ringfort

The Cabragh Ringfort in Cabragh is a great example of these ancient homes. It's a circular area surrounded by an earthen bank and ditch. This design helped keep families safe from wild animals or enemies. Imagine living inside one of these, with your family and livestock!

Errigal Ringfort

Another interesting ringfort is the Errigal Ringfort in Errigal. Just like Cabragh, it shows us how people in the past created strong defenses for their homes. These ringforts are important clues about how communities were organized and how they protected themselves in ancient Ireland.

Lisnagowan Ringfort

The Lisnagowan Ringfort is another protected site in County Cavan. While it might not have a picture available, it's still a valuable part of Ireland's history. Each ringfort tells a unique story about the people who lived there and the challenges they faced.

Mysterious Tombs: Court Tombs

Court tombs are very old burial places from the Stone Age, built by early farmers around 3,000 to 4,000 BC. They are called "court tombs" because they have an open, U-shaped area or "court" at the front, leading into a burial chamber. People likely gathered in these courts for ceremonies before burials.

Cohaw Court Tomb

The Cohaw Court Tomb is a fantastic example of these ancient burial sites. It's located in Cohaw and is one of the best-preserved court tombs in Ireland. Imagine people from thousands of years ago building this huge stone structure to honor their dead. It shows how important their beliefs and rituals were.

Gartnanoul Court Tomb

Another significant court tomb is found at Gartnanoul. These tombs are not just piles of stones; they are carefully designed structures. They give us clues about the beliefs and customs of the very first farmers who settled in Ireland. They show how much effort people put into remembering their ancestors.

Historic Buildings: Drumlane and Cloughoughter Castle

County Cavan also has important historic buildings that tell us about different periods in Irish history, from early Christian times to medieval castles.

Drumlane Church and Round Tower

Drumlane is a very old site with a church and a Round Tower. Round towers are tall, narrow, stone towers built by monks in Ireland between the 9th and 12th centuries. They were used as bell towers, lookouts, and places of refuge during attacks. The Drumlane site shows us a glimpse into early Christian life in Ireland.

Cloughoughter Castle

Cloughoughter Castle is a famous castle located on an island in Lough Oughter. It's a really cool sight, standing tall in the middle of the water. Castles like this were built by powerful families, often for defense, during the medieval period. This castle has seen a lot of history unfold around it!

Images for kids

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  The ancient Cabragh Ringfort in County Cavan.

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  The impressive Cohaw Court Tomb, a burial site from the Stone Age.

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  The historic Drumlane Church and Round Tower.

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  A closer look at the Errigal Ringfort.

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  The ancient Gartnanoul Court Tomb.

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  Cloughoughter Castle standing on an island in Lough Oughter.

Sources

• National Monuments in County Cavan