Brian Boru's Fort
{{short description |Ringfort in County Clare, Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Irish English|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Brian Boru's Fort
| native_name = Béal Ború
| native_language = ga
|other_name =Balboru
| image = Brian_Boru's_Fort_(51357382309).jpg
| caption =
| locmapin = Ireland
| coordinates = {{coord|52.818908|N|8.451578|W|display=inline,title}}
| location = Ballyvally, Killaloe,
County Clare, Ireland
| area = {{Convert|0.29|ha|abbr=on}}
| built = 11th century
| elevation = {{Convert|45|m|abbr=on}}
| architect =
| architecture =
| governing_body =
| owner =
| type = ringfort
| height =
| designation1 =National Monument of Ireland
| designation1_offname = Brian Boru's Fort
| designation1_date =
| designation1_number = 591
}}
Brian Boru's Fort, also called Béal Ború, is a ringfort and National Monument located in County Clare, Ireland.{{cite web|url=http://www.megalithomania.com/show/site/1513|title=megalithomania: Brian Boru's Fort (Clare) :: Ring Fort :: Visit notes|publisher=}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7vH4AwAAQBAJ&q=beal+boru&pg=PA37|title=Brian Boru and the Battle of Clontarf|first=Seán|last=Duffy|date=18 October 2013|publisher=Gill & Macmillan Ltd|isbn=9780717157761|via=Google Books}}
Location
Brian Boru's Fort is located immediately north of Killaloe, on the west bank of the River Shannon, commanding the southern entry to Lough Derg.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lDfCVk9Z1r0C&q=beal+boru&pg=PA75|title=The Everything Irish History & Heritage Book: From Brian Boru and St. Patrick to Sinn Fein and the Troubles, All You Need to Know About the Emerald Isle|first1=Amy Hackney|last1=Blackwell|first2=Ryan|last2=Hackney|date=1 January 2004|publisher=Everything Books|isbn=9781605505107|via=Google Books|access-date=3 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104091142/https://books.google.ie/books?id=lDfCVk9Z1r0C&pg=PA75&dq=beal%20boru&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi9wuWMgaLRAhXrLMAKHcB_DM4Q6AEILzAC#v=onepage&q=beal%20boru&f=false|archive-date=4 January 2017|url-status=dead}}
History
Dáithí Ó hÓgáin claimed this site as the birthplace or childhood home of Brian Boru (c. 941 – 1014), High King of Ireland 1002–14; as an adult he was based further south at Kincora (in modern Killaloe).{{cite web|url=http://www.discoverireland.ie/Arts-Culture-Heritage/beal-boru-brian-boru-s-fort/13093|title=Beal Boru 'Brian Boru's Fort' - Attractions - Museums and Attractions - All Ireland - Republic of Ireland - Clare - Killaloe - Discover Ireland|first=Website design and development by|last=Tibus|publisher=}}
Excavations in 1936 revealed over 800 stone implements, including ten stone axes, hammerstones and stone fishing sinkers for lines and nets, were found in the immediate neighbourhood.{{cite book |last=Meehan |first=Cary |date=2004 |title=Sacred Ireland |url= |location=Somerset |publisher=Gothic Image Publications |page=466|isbn=0 906362 43 1 |access-date=}} It is likely that it was occupied during the Stone Age. In 1961 Michael J. O'Kelly's excavations revealed a ringfort which had been inhabited, abandoned and later built over. A larger structure which included a bank and ditch was built at a later time.Meehan, p. 467.
The name Béal Bórumha means "mouth of cattle tribute"; it may have been at the fording-point here that the Dál gCais paid or received such tributes.Meehan, p. 467.
Brian Boru's fort was built in the eleventh century and stood possibly until 1116 when Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair's men defeated the Ua Briain and destroyed Kincora. Later finds include Hiberno-Norse pennies minted c.1035–70,{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2rwRDAAAQBAJ&q=beal+boru&pg=PA299|title=A New History of Ireland|first1=Theodore William|last1=Moody|first2=Dáibhí Ó|last2=Cróinín|first3=Francis X.|last3=Martin|date=1 January 2005|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780198217374|via=Google Books}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R0GoDQAAQBAJ&q=beal+boru&pg=PT297|title=Early Medieval Monetary History: Studies in Memory of Mark Blackburn|first=Martin|last=Allen|date=5 December 2016|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781351942522|via=Google Books}} decorated slate, five bronze pins, a tangled stud, 25 nails, two small sherds of pottery, animal and bird bones and musket balls.
In 1207 the Normans tried to build a motte and bailey but were driven off. Geoffrey de Marisco instead built a castle at Killaloe in 1216.{{cite web|url=http://www.mythicalireland.com/ancientsites/brianboru/|title=Mythical Ireland - Brian Boru's Fort|publisher=}}
Description
The fort is a mound of earth 70 m (80 yd) in diameter.
The 1961 excavation discovered postholes of a rectangular wooden building with a central hearth near the western side of the enclosed area, situated perpendicular to the bank. It was approximately 4 m by 2.5 m (13 ft by 8 ft), with a paved entryway.
{{cite web|url=http://www.voicesfromthedawn.com/beal-boru/|title=Béal Ború – Brian Boru's Fort - Voices from the Dawn|date=21 April 2010 |publisher=}}{{cite web|url=http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/kointerest.htm|title=Clare Places - Killaloe: Places of Interest|publisher=}}{{cite web|url=http://www.blather.net/deadlyphoto/2005/09/beal_boru_brian_borus_fort_kil.html|title=Beal Boru: Brian Boru's Fort, Killaloe, Co. Clare (deadlyphoto blog)|publisher=}}
In fiction
Béal Ború is mentioned in Morgan Llywelyn's 1990 novel Brian Boru: Emperor of the Irish, winner of a Bisto Award.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xFuNAwAAQBAJ&q=beal+boru&pg=PT10|title=Brian Boru: Emperor of the Irish|first=Morgan|last=Llywelyn|date=14 September 2012|publisher=The O'Brien Press|isbn=9781847174697|via=Google Books}}
References
{{Reflist}}