Concentric enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

On a rise in undulating pastureland. This well-preserved concentric enclosure (diam. c. 43.3m) is defined by an inner bank and fosse which are separated from the outer bank and fosse by a flat berm (Wth c. 10m). The inner bank and fosse have been quarried out at NE and ESE. The outer bank is visible all round but the outer fosse only survives from S through W to NW. There is a stone-lined causewayed entrance gap (Wth 6m) at S. A field boundary cuts through the outer bank at WNW and SSW. Within the E sector and SW quadrant of the interior are the foundations of three possible house sites (GA095-086001-, GA095-086002- and GA095-086003-). An internal division, defined by a grassed-over bank, is evident in the NE quadrant; all these features were noted by Westropp (1919, 174-5). A souterrain (GA095-086004-) is also associated Athy (1914, 134). (McCaffrey 1952, 136, no. 34; CUCAP AVN, 13)

Compiled by: Olive Alcock

Date of upload: 26 February 2018

References

McCaffrey, P. 1952 A contribution to the archaeology of the barony of Dunkellin, Co. Galway. Unpublished MA thesis, National University of Ireland, Galway.

Lynch Athy, M. 1914 Notes on the Ordnance Survey Letters relating to the Barony of Dunkellin, Co. Galway: IV - Oranmore Parish. Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society 8, 129-98.

CUCAP - Cambridge University Collection of Aerial Photographs. Unit for Landscape Modelling, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge. See:https://www.cambridgeairphotos.com

Westropp, T.J. 1919a Notes on several forts in Dunkellin and other parts of southern Co. Galway. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 49, 167-86.