Navan Fort

Navan Fort is a large circular earthwork on the summit of a drumlin that is thought to be the site of a pagan sanctuary.The impressive earthwork encloses two monuments on the hilltop, a ring barrow (Iron Age burial site) and a large mound.

In the Ulster Cycle of early Irish mythological tales Emain was portrayed as the headquarters and sacred place of a military dynasty, the 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 identified as a prehistoric provincial capital in 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 invention, archaeological excavations are revealing ceremonial structures of Iron Age date in these monuments which are very similar to each other.