Enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

In rough pastureland within the grounds of the Ballybrit racecourse; some 25m to the W of a rath (GA082-013----). Marked on 3rd ed. of OS 6-inch map (1945-6) as a roughly semicircular enclosure defined by a bank from SSW through W to N. In 1971 when the racecourse was widened most of the monument was removed and only a short arc of the bank (L 5m; Wth 2m; H 0.4m) from SSW to WSW remained undisturbed. No trace of a fosse was evident. Excavation produced nothing but a single post-medieval pot sherd (Waddell 1971, 73-9). It was not possible to determine the original plan of the enclosure and there was no indication that it was ever more than a rough semicircle in plan (ibid., 74).

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Galway Vol. I - West Galway'. Compiled by Paul Gosling (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1993). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Updated by: Olive Alcock

Date of revised upload: 30 August 2018

This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 14/1977).

References

Waddell, J. 1971 A ringfort at Ballybrit, Co. Galway. Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society 32, 73-9.