Navan Fort

Navan Fort is a large earthwork of circular plan surrounding the summit of a drumlin in pleasant rolling countryside. The site, a pagan sanctuary, is some 240m in internal diameter. Where best preserved on the west, the ditch is 4m deep and the external embankment 15m wide and 4m high. The impressive earthwork encloses two monuments on the hilltop, a ring barrow (Iron Age burial site) and a large mound. Excavations in the 1960s revealed that the mound was a composite structure built in 95 BC at the end of a long sequence of earlier activity. Recent excavations demonstrated that the main enclosure was also built in the 90s BC.

This site is identified as the Emain Macha (from Emain perhaps meaning twins and Macha, the name of the local goddess) of legendary and literary fame. In the Ulster Cycle of early Irish mythological tales Emain was portrayed as the headquarters and sacred place of a military dynasty, the so-called Red Branch knights, ruled by Conchobar mac Nessa who was advised by the druid Cathbad and championed by CuChulainn, the Hound of Ulster.

Emain is one of a small number of sites celebrated as a prehistoric provincial capital in the early sources, the others include Tara, Co Meath (Meath, the 'middle' province), Knockaulin, Co Kildare (Leinster) and Cruachan, Co Roscommon (Connacht). While some of the rich lore associated with these places may be medieval literary inventions, it is surprising that archaeological excavations are revealing ceremonial structures of Iron Age date in these monuments which are closely comparable with one another.

Access & Booking

There is open access to Navan Fort all year round.

The Navan Centre is open June to August 10.00 - 17.00 Monday to Saturday, 12 noon - 17.00 Sunday. April, May & September Saturday 10.00 - 17.00, Sunday 12noon - 17.00

Winding woodland walk to the base of the hill on which Navan is built, suitable for wheelchair users. Navan itself has grassy slopes which are unsuited for wheelchair users and those with difficulty walking.

Booking and queries: For information on visits to Navan Fort, please contact EHS on 028 90 569584

For information from the Navan Centre: Phone 028 3752 1801, www.visitarmagh.com

Getting Here

Navan Fort is signposted off A28 west of Armagh, as is the Navan Centre.