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Altagore

 

Allt an Ghabhair

Ravine of the Goat

 

 
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Altagore

 

 

Part of our farm on the Torr Road is in Altagore and part is in Ballyteerim. My family has lived there for many years.

 

Altagore means stream of the goat.

 

Ballyteerim means the dry town land.

 

Altagore Cashel is in my great uncle Hugh's farm. The use of Cashel is not very clear. Cashel means a heap of stones. Cashels may have been used for defence and protection. Some people say it was used for collecting rents. Other people say it was a place to hide in when Vikings came to Ireland and others say it was a look out to sea in war times. It is in the parish of Culfeightrim.

 

There is a similar one in John O Drain's farm. It is two km north of Cushendun. Picturesquely visible, it is situated 300 metres west of the coast road from Cushendun to Ballycastle via Torr Head. It is a circular building. The wall is 0.75m high andO.7 wide. The diameter of Cashel is 15.6m by 17.1m wide externally it is 19mby21m.

 

 

It was built during the early Christian period 500-1200 A.D. The usual technique (possibly learned from Norsemen) was to construct two concentric dry-stone walls of medium-sized blocks and slabs. Limestone was the preferred material, set on a foundation of large boulders. The area between was then in-filled with rubble.

 

Altagore is situated on rocky pasture of land over looking a small valley to the east and the sea southeast.

 

It had an underground passage that is now covered with stones put there by my great uncle Hugh to stop animals from going in. Years ago my great-great uncles were able to crawl along the tunnel for a great distance. Now the tunnel has collapsed and was blocked with falling stones. Some loose stones are visible from the east. Some of it has been built up during the years.

 

The Cashel is the finest surviving in County Antrim. To find out what history lies below these walls it would have to be excavated.

 

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