Navan Fort

Navan Fort, or Emain Macha as it was known in the old Irish language, is a large circular earthwork structure surrounding a drumlin, with an internal diameter of around 240 metres. It is located two miles west of Armagh city. Though now called a “fort”, the low layout suggests the site was more ceremonial than defensive. Since the bank and ditch are in a reverse order, with the ditch being on the inside of the bank, the structure would have offered a disadvantage to the defenders.

Between 1963 and 1971, archaeologists excavated the large mound at the centre of the structure. They discovered that the site had been rebuilt several times, commencing with a ditched enclosure, 150 meters in diameter, constructed in the Late Bronze Age.

In the Early Iron Age, a series of round houses with large annexes was built, in the shape of a figure of eight. Around 90 B.C., this was replaced by a huge wooden structure, consisting of 275 large upright posts in five concentric rings, perhaps with a roof, and with a very tall pole in the centre. Historians doubt that the structure was inhabited, as soon after construction it was filled with large limestone boulders and set on fire in what was presumably an enormous ritual. After the bonfire, the remains were covered over by sods to form the mound.

Emain Macha was the seat of the ancient kings of Ulster, and called after the mythical goddess or princess Macha, while “Emain” is believed to mean “twins”.

Emain is associated with King Conchobor mac Nessa and his Red Branch Knights who were based in the area, and also with his champion, the great Irish mythical hero Cu Chulainn, who was said to have spent much of his youth here, before going out single-handedly to face the army of the mythical Queen Medbh from Connacht.

Brian Boru, high king of Ireland, encamped in Emain Macha in 1005, and in 1387 Niall O’Neill chose it as the location of a house which he built to entertain “the learned companies of Ireland”.