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The forts on Lough Swilly were built because of the threat of a Napoleonic invasion 1796. In Nov 1798 a small French fleet under Admiral Bompart, accompanied by Theobald Wolfe Tone was intercepted and defeated off the coast of Donegal by a British force under Sir John Borlasse Warren. The penetration of the French fleet thus far, prompted the British to fortify the Swilly immediately. Forts or batteries were built on opposite sides of the Swilly channel, at Dunree, Ned’s Point, Saltpan Hill and Down of Inch on the east and Rathmullan, Macamish Point and Knockalla on the west. The present guns on Dunree Hill (6” Mark VII) were installed 1911. The fort was handed over to the Irish on October 3 1938, the central figures in this dramatic episode, were Sergeant King (Royal Artillery) and Sergeant McLaughlin (Irish National Army) by a remarkable coincidence, these two soldiers representing the armed forces of two states were brothers-in-law, Sergeant King was married to Sergeant McLaughlin’s sister. Discovery Series Map 2 Elevation 93 metres (305 feet)