Booking essential. Doon Fort is recognised as Ireland’s only inland island cashel belonging to the Western Stone Forts series of monuments. Since 2016, under the Heritage Council’s Adopt a Monument Ireland scheme, the group secured the support of the landowner and procured a comprehensive range of surveys to better understand the story around this unique fort, securing its future and accessibility. Restoration of the fort has been carried out over the last two years, through the Community Monuments Fund, with the gaping breach in the wall now re-built. This year’s phase is the stabilisation of the wall-top walkway and parapets. Ultimately our work will re-establish the integrity of the fort structurally, enhance its resilience and prepare for improved safe public access. By delivering a coherent and historically legitimate reconstruction of the collapsed walls we will be securing its lasting legacy. The lacustrine location of Doon Fort, along the Wild Atlantic Way, is key to Donegal’s architectural and cultural legacy. The fort’s dramatic rising public profile and its discovery by the “culturally curious” (Fáilte Ireland) means that there is increased demand to visit the monument despite poor access. Access to Doon Fort has historically been by small rowing boat and is very much weather dependent. The group’s objective is to return the fort to a secure and resilient structure, ensuring that it will be enjoyed and understood as an irreplaceable source of pride and inspiration for generations to come. We would ask for your patience while we continue to work towards improved access. We will be viewing Doon Fort from a vantage point overlooking Loughadoon. Due to structural work on the fort, no access is possible this year. We will be looking at the landscape setting of Doon Fort, the smaller cashel in the same lake and the other monuments in the vicinity with the monument. We will be tracing the connections, networks and potential routes that this landscape once had. We will also be looking at the flora, past and present in the greater Loughadoon area. There will be an opportunity to immerse yourself more through our exhibition in Kilclooney Dolmen Centre. Please remember we are on private property and follow instructions from your guides. No parking on Doon Fort road. Walking sticks and boots advised as the terrain is rough.

Address
Kilclooney Dolmen Centre, Co. Donegal