Inauguration site

The National Monuments Service's description

On a prominent gravel ridge, known locally as ‘Fahy's Hill’, in an area of flat pastureland. Regarded as a ringfort by Killanin and Duignan (1967, 69). Aerial imagery taken in 1970 (CUCAP BDN 37) shows that a large quarry was being developed immediately to its E. Consequently in 1971 a rescue excavation was undertaken by E. Rynne (pers. comm.) who described it as a large earthwork (max. diam. c. 68m) comprising a flat-topped mound (diam. c. 28m) encircled by a fosse and external bank. There was a gap (Wth 6m) at SE. Within the interior was a semicircular enclosure (diam. c. 5.5m) defined by a bank with an external shallow fosse. A number of seemingly haphazardly placed pits and/or post holes occurred in this area. Also found in this vicinity were two concentrations of cremated bones and one shallow cremation-burial. Rynne (ibid.) concluded that the exposed position and the complete lack of any trace of a hearth, together with the widespread scatter of small fragments of cremated bones, suggested that the site was not used for habitation but was more likely used for ritual purposes; it may have been an assembly place or an inauguration mound. No visible surface trace survives. A ring-barrow (GA114-088----) lay c. 30m to the NE.

Compiled by: Galway Archaeological Survey, UCG

Date of upload: 12 August 2019

References

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

Killanin, M.M. and Duignan, M.V. 1967 (2nd ed.) The Shell guide to Ireland. London. The Ebury Press.