Cliff-edge fort

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated at the outer edge of a shelf of rock outcrop on a S-facing slope. This is a grass-covered D-shaped area (int. dims 33.5m E-W; 21.5m N-S) defined by a cliff at S (H c. 8m), by an earthen bank (Wth 5-7m; int. H 0.4m at N to 1.2m at E; ext. H 0.3m at N to 1.8m at E) NW-N-SE and a partly rock-cut fosse SW-N-SE that is most massive at W (Wth of top 12.5m; Wth of base 2.2m; int. D 2.2m; ext. D 2.4m) and E (Wth of top 9.5m; Wth of base 3.5m; int. D 1.8m; ext. D 2.2m), but is very slight at N (Wth of top 10m; Wth of base 4.5m; int. D 0.3m; ext. D 0.2m). The entrance (Wth 5m) is at N. St Patrick's holy well (LE022-015----) is c. 15m to the SE, across a NE-SW public road. John O’Donovan writing in the 1830s identified Cromlin with the location of the pagan idol known as Crom Cruach. The image was reputedly destroyed by St Patrick, after which he conducted baptisms at the well (Herity 2012, 397-8). The source, the Tripartite Life, is unreliable, and Dalton (1921-4, 33-36) places the location of Crom Cruach in a hilltop enclosure (CV013-022----) in Co. Cavan, which seems more reasonable.

The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Leitrim' compiled by Michael J. Moore (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2003). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of revised upload: 26 January 2017