School: Drumbibe (roll number 10765)
- Location:
- Drumbibe, Co. Leitrim
- Teacher: Tomás Searplaigh
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0223, Page 296
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- XML “Forts”
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- Forts, also called rates were used in the time of clan war for the protection of cattle and sheep. Oftentimes droves 5 miles long were accommodated in thes forts, and they were then protected by the soilders of the invaded territory. They were a common feature in Ireland before the English invasion. A singular fact about these fortifications is that each is in direct line to its nebhour and one can be seen from the other. By this way they could send signals to each other by means of fires. In this way they kept each other safe from war. These (forths) forts or maths are supposed to be of Danish origin, but a local saying is that they were an entirely Irish or Gaelic protection from war.
- Informant
- Peter Dolan
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Moher, Co. Leitrim
