Grianan Ailligh / Grianán Ailigh

Grianan Ailligh, also, Grianán Ailigh. . , This large stone-walled fort, located on a hilltop commanding views over Loughs Foyle and Swilly and counties Donegal, Derry and Tyrone, was the royal citadel of the northern Uí Néill from the 5th to the 12th century. It was probably built some time around the birth of Christ. Its builders may have been attracted to this hilltop site by the presence here of a sacred monument - a prehistoric burial mound or tumulus, possibly from the Neolithich period (about 3000 BC)., A lintelled passage through the 4.5m thick wall leads to the interior where the wall rises in three terraces to a height of about 5m; there are also two long passages contained within the thickness of the wall. Substantial restoration work was carried out in 1870. We know little about the three earthen banks which circle the Grianan, but they could be part of an earlier Bronze Age or Iron Age hillfort. The trackway running through these banks and leading to the fort is believed to be an ancient roadway., Bhí an caiseal seo, suite ar bharr cnoic óna bhfuil ardradharc ar Loch Feabhail agus Loch Súilí agus isteach i gCo. Dhún na nGall, Co. Dhoire agus Co. Thír Eoghain, bhí sé mar dhún ríoga ag Uí Néill an Tuaiscirt ón 5ú go dtí an 12ú haois. Tógadh é thart ar aimsir Chríost. B'fhéidir gur roghnaigh an dream a thóg é an barrchnoc seo toisc go raibh leacht naofa ann cheana féin - carn adhlactha (tumulus) ó thréimhse na réamhstaire, b'fhéidir ón tréimhse neoiliteach (timpeall 3000 r. Chr.)., Tá pasáiste le fardoras ag gabháil tríd an balla (atá 4.5 m. i dtiús) isteach i gcroílár an chaisil, áit a n-éiríonn an bhalla ina thrí chéim anairde go dtí 5 m. Tá, freisin, dhá phasáiste fada laistigh den mballa féin. Rinneadh athchóiriú mór ar an gcaiseal sa bhliain 1870. Ní fheadar mórán mar gheall ar na trí mhóta de chréafóig atá thart timpeall ar an nGrianán, ach tá seans ann gur páirt iad de dhún a bhí ann roimhe sin, sa Ré Chré-umha nó sa Ré Iarainn. Creidtear gur seanbhóthar a bhí sa chosán a ghabhann tríd na mótaí seo i dtreo an chaisil.