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~ BEAL BORU ~

Brian Boru's fort is located in a very serene and spectacular setting - overlooking Lough Derg on the River Shannon, just one mile north of the picturesque village of Killaloe. Beal Boru, as it is more commonly known, stands on a spur of land which commands the point where the lake narrows into the River Shannon.

Brian Boru (Bórumha, bóraimhe, meaning a cattle tribute) was either born or reared at this mystical location, according to folklorist Daithi O hOgain, and the placename, Béal Bóramha, means the 'port of the cattle tribute'. Boru was high-king of Ireland from 1002 until his death in 1014AD. His headquarters was the nearby Ceann Cora (in English Kincora) which is located one mile from here in the picturesque village of Killaloe. His death came during the battle of Clontarf against the Norsemen, a battle which was to claim Boru's life, but which he won nonetheless.

The fort can be found by taking a trek down a half-mile grassy pathway from the Killaloe-Scarrif Road, through a mostly wooded area, and the place feels detached from the modern world when the trees are in full leaf. The site is impressive in the height of the outer side of the banks, and is fairly expansive in size. Apart from a small amount of litter, the site is in good condition.

Except for some filling in of the ditch and the planting of trees at the start of the nineteenth century, the fort looks very much as it did during the thirteenth century. Two Hiberno-Norse coins, minted between 1035 and 1070, were found here as well as a decorated piece of local slate, five bronze pins, a tangled stud, 25 large nails, two small shreds of pottery, animal and bird bones and a considerable amount of musket balls.

- Extract from Mythical Ireland -


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