Explore the reconstructed ring fort, an ancient type of settlement that was common in Ireland between 500 AD and 1100 AD.
The ring fort at Craggaunowen is a reconstructed example of the kind of defensive homesteads used by Irish farmers during the early medieval period. Ring forts, also known as
ráths or
lisses, were circular enclosures surrounded by earth banks and ditches, sometimes reinforced with wooden palisades or stone walls. These structures served as homes for extended families, providing protection from raiders, wild animals, and harsh weather.