Survey Data
Reg No
30412008
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Social
Original Use
Signal tower
Date
1800 - 1805
Coordinates
98154, 202204
Date Recorded
08/10/2009
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached two-storey Napoleonic signal tower, erected c.1804, having two-bay elevations to north-east and south-west and single-bay elevations to other sides. Rubble limestone walls with remains of slatehanging, with dressed limestone machicolations, one to middle of north-west elevation and double machicolations to corners of opposite elevation. Square-headed window openings having dressed limestone block-and-start surrounds and lintels with raised keystone detail, and limestone sills. Fireplace to first floor of south-east wall having dressed limestone surround flanked by tall cupboard niches. Former national school of later date to north-west and more recent reservoir to south-east.
Appraisal
This military installation is part of the extensive network of fortifications and signal stations along the Atlantic seaboard and designed to repulse the threat of French invasion against Ireland, then a British colony. Its form is familiar, a second instance being Dún Árainn on Inis Mór. The dressed limestone surrounds on Inis Oírr make this signal tower somehat more interesting.