Drumanagh (Irish: Droim Meánach)[1] is a headland near the village of Loughshinny, in the north east of Dublin, Ireland. It features an early 19th-century Martello tower and a large (200,000 m²) Iron Age promontory fort which has produced Roman artefacts.
Some archaeologists have suggested the fort was a bridgehead for Roman military campaigns, while others suggest it was a Roman trading colony, or at least the site of a regular trading "fair", or a native Irish settlement that traded with Roman Britain, as Roman brooches and metalware in the style of Roman Britain were found nearby.[2][3]
The site was acquired, reportedly for about €1 million, by Fingal County Council in 2017. In early 2018 they announced a Draft Conservation and Management Plan for consultation, including protection from further damage by motorbike scrambling, and integration into coastal walking paths.[4] The purchase has raised hopes that the site will finally receive proper archaeological investigation, which will answer many of the questions that have been the subject of speculation for decades.[5]
- ^ Placenames Database of Ireland, retrieved 22 June 2009
- ^ Richard Warner, "Yes, the Romans did invade Ireland", British Archaeology 14, May 1996, retrieved 14 August 2009
- ^ Shawn Pogatchnik, "Experts Claim Romans May Have Established Colonies in Ireland", Los Angeles Times, 17 November 1996, retrieved 22 July 2009
- ^ Irish Independent, "Plans to conserve Drumanagh unveiled", by John Manning, 20 January 2018
- ^ Boyle, Paddy. DRUMANAGH—AN EXCITING PROSPECT. Archaeology Ireland, vol. 31, no. 2, 2017, pp. 12–14., JSTOR