Many coastal
sites in Ireland were defended by the erection of earthen or stone
ramparts across the necks of headlands, forming promontory forts. These
forts were built primarily for defence or refuge purposes, rather that
for habitation and vary greatly in size. Though generally assigned
to the Iron Age, they can vary widely in date from c.1000 BC to 1700
AD and usually have the element dún in their names. There are
34 surviving recorded promontory forts in County Clare. Other defensive
forts are hillforts and cliff-edge forts.
Photos
of promontory forts Map
of the promontory forts of Clare