Built Heritage of Ring of Gullion AONB
People have lived in the Ring of Gullion for over 6000 years and surviving today is a rich inheritance of historic monuments. The area contains the remains of 20 or so large stone tombs. Many of them such as Ballymacdermot are situated in prominent positions with magnificent views over the surrounding countryside. The King's Ring at Clontygora, and the Ballymacdermot tomb are two of the best examples of Court Tombs in the Northern Ireland. The monument at Ballykeel is also an outstanding example of a Portal Tomb and the South Cairn on the summit of Slieve Gullion has the distinction of being the highest surviving Passage Tomb in Britain or Ireland. Excavations at several of these burial monuments have uncovered stone tools, pottery and human remains.
The Dorsey (Doirse - Doors or gates)
Dating from the Iron Age period is the Dorsey 'enclosure' located on the western edge of the Ring of Gullion. The Dorsey, two roughly parallel massive earth bank and ditch ramparts over a mile long lie astride an old routeway to Eamhain Macha (Navan Fort, near Armagh - the ancient capital of Ulster). Recent evidence dates part of the monument to around 100BC, contemporary with a major phase of activity at Navan and lending support to the tradition that the Doresy was once the 'gateway' to Ulster.
Kilnasaggart Stone (Cill na Sagart - Church of the Priests)
A long Irish inscription on the Kilnasaggart Pillar Stone records the dedication of the place by Ternoc, son of Ceran Bec under the patronage of Peter the Apostle. As Ternoc's death is recorded in the annals of 714 or 716, the stone can reasonably be dated to around AD700, making it the earliest dated cross-carved stone in Ireland. It marks the site of an early Christian cemetery and a church was probably located close by.
Killevy Churches (Cill Shléibhe - Mountain Church)
Killevy is the site of one of Ireland's most important early convents, founded by St Mo-Ninne (otherwise known as Bline or Darerca) in the 5th century. Although plundered by the Vikings in 923 monastic life continued and the site was occupied by Augustinian Nuns until 1542. The large tree lined graveyard is still in use.
Moyry Castle
In 1600 Lord Mountjoy secured the Moyry Pass or gap of the North for the Crown. The next year he built Moyry Castle on a natural rocky hillock overlooking the pass. The castle, now in ruins, is a three storey tower with rounded corners and gun loops. The railway line to Dublin opened in 1852, follows the ancient route through the Gap of the North and passes close to the Castle ruins.
