Site Visit – Dunree Fort, County Donegal

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Meaning ‘Fort of the Heather,’ Dunree Fort is now a national museum in Donegal. Originally a fort was erected on the cliffs in 1798 to guard against French invasion. The much expanded site today consists of 4 distinct areas of interest; the original fort which is now a museum (and was incidentally closed at the time of my visit), the later 19th Century coastal battery, the ring of defences protecting the site from inland invasion and the large military settlement of domestic buildings. With the exception of the museum site, the remainder is open for visiting.

The afternoon of my visit, the 31st December 2016 was horrendous. I endured over 2 hours of persistent rain and wind. Not the prettiest images of the fort, but they help to demonstrate the extreme conditions these forts had to endure. Any poor clarity images are owing to the water I had to clear from the lens between shots!

A view over the domestic site with old fort in the distance (back left).

One of the multiple pillboxes constructed for small arms in order to protect the fort from inland invasion.

The stunning view from the pillbox.

One of three barbettes, of which only 2 were fully armed in the 19th Century.

Barbette armed with a BL 6 inch gun.

The BL 6 inch gun. Two are now on site.

The barbette with access to the magazine to the left.

Stairs to the magazine.

Inside the main magazine.

One of the shell lifts still in position.

What is technically the citadel on top of the Dunree hill. The majority of space inside the walls was natural rock, with this north western corner being occupied.

The single, armoured entrance to the citadel.

Inside the citadel, with the exception of 3 casemates this is the extent of the occupied space. A small guard box appears in the centre of the photograph, and to the left could have been an armoury or prison.

A rain water collecting system.

The plotting or fire control room.

Inside the plotting room.

A small accommodation block for an appointment of importance.

Inside the accommodation with wooden panelling, fireplace and bed frame still intact (almost!).

The accommodation was perched on the bleak hillside.

More of the accommodation.

The FINBAR, what I can imagine was the soldiers recreation facility.

Given it’s age (120 years) the accommodation was maintained until the 1960s I believe.

The blocks are now falling into disrepair.

Inside one of the iconic pre-WW1 British accommodation structures.

Some buildings are un a greater state of disrepair.

Fireplace.

Shower.

Lightswitch.

WD urinal.

1944 graffiti.

Armoured window covering on the training battery magazine.

Editors Note

Given it’s age (120 years) the accommodation was maintained until the 1960s I believe.

Accommodation block with adjoining ‘spider’ corridor.

For those that have explored this blog fully, you will remember an article about the Baxter Block at Ballykinlar. Comparison of the block at both Dunree and Ballykinlar show they are identical in construction and design, albeit in a differing configuration. The blocks at Ballykinlar, since demolished, were located at the Curragh until the start of WW1 when they were relocated to house the newly formed Ulster division. It appears that both blocks were most likely originally constructed at the same time, when Ireland was an island under British rule. An altogether different era of history.

The demolition of Baxter Block. Open source image from The Somme Association Facebook page.

Open source image from The Somme Association Facebook page.

The Somme Association project ‘Green Hut’ took place in 2012 to relocate one of the Baxter block huts to the Somme Museum at Conlig, Country Down. This was the 3rd time we know of this particular hut being relocated, but this building has now been restored and is available for all to see. The project album and page can be found here.