Culmore Fort

Culmore Fort

Culmore Fort is situated beside the narrow channel where the River Foyle flows into Lough Foyle. The name Culmore is derived from the Gaelic ‘cúil mór’ meaning ‘big corner’.

It is not known when a fort was first built here, but it is steeped in history from when St Colmcille sailed down the river Foyle from Derry in 563 AD on his way to Scotland, where he founded an Abbey on the island of Iona. Iona is a holy isle and has been described as the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland.

During the O’Dogherty Rebellion in 1608, the fort was an English military garrison. Sir. Cahir O’Dogherty and his men stormed the fort and captured weapons that they used for their uprising against the English forces.

The current tower was built during the 1800s on the site of the original Fort. Culmore is currently home to Lough Foyle Yacht Club and Visitors can park next to the fort.

From here it is only a short distance to Culmore Country Park.