Caherconnell Stone Fort

I am OBSESSED with following the progress of the digs happening at Caherconnell. Every summer they host archaeology students who dig on the site and every year they uncover the most interesting glimpses in to the past.

Location:

Caherconnell Fort & sheepdog demonstrations are located just 10km or so from the village of Ballyvaugan. Click here for the location on Google maps.

Cost:

	Sheepdog Demo	Fort	Joint Ticket
Adult	€6.00	€6.00	€10.00
Child (U12)	€3.00	€4.00	€5.60
Senior/Student	€6.00	€6.00	€10.00
Family	€15.00	€18.00	€24.50
Family = 2 Adults and 2 Children U-12 | Children under 5 – Free Group Rates Available on Request

Parking:

Plenty available on the site.

Of all the historical sites in the Burren, I believe this to be one of the best preserved. The stone fort dates back to the 10th century but there are suggestions that other additions came in the 15th or 16th centuries. The outer wall is an almost perfect circle of about 40 metres, twice the size of an average fort. The site was excavated in 2007 and suggests that the inhabitants enjoyed a relatively high status.

When you arrive at the site, you can take in an audio visual that brings you through the history of the fort. From there, you can explore the fort itself with a tour guide. There are QR codes set up for most European languages. If you arrive in the summer, you may be lucky to catch the digs I previously mentioned. Tune into their Facebook page to see their finds.

As if the site wasn’t great enough, you can also see a sheepdog demonstration. This was my favourite part of the visit. The site is family owned and, as with many farmers, they were using dogs to round up their sheep. When the owner noticed the interest, he turned it into something that everyone can come along to and see. You are introduced to the dogs and then shown the work they do and the different commands the farmer uses. The relationship between the two was phenomenal and the demonstration is a unique and typically Irish experience.

After all that, be sure to treat yourself to a cup of coffee and some home cooking in their tea room. You can find out all the details you need on their website here.