Promontory fort - coastal

The National Monuments Service's description

This monument, known as 'Dunminulla', lies in an area of mountainous bog which is not easily accessible. The view from the fort is excellent as it is on the highest point of land in the immediate locality. The headland is flanked by sheer cliffs on either side and a small inaccessible cove is visible to the E. A promontory immediately to the E does not seem to have been fortified.
A large N-facing headland (115m E-W, 380m N-S) defended by a complex series of banks and ditches. The narrow isthmus has broken away, making the interior inaccessible, and probably removing some of the defences. The defences now consist of a complex series of five banks and four ditches, curving towards the land with traces of several possible entrance causeways across them. The remains of at least one hut site (MA001-002002-) and a souterrain (MA001-002003-) entrance can be seen within the defences. Along the N edge of the collapsed isthmus traces of a fallen earthen bank are visible. A fosse (D 2.5m) runs along the cliff edge, and outside this is an earth and stone flat-topped bank (Wth 12m at base; 5m at the top). Outside this again is a very deep and wide, partly rock-cut ditch, which has an earthen bank (Wth 3m; H 1.5m) running through the centre. The ditch (Wth 14m at base) lies 4.5m below the bank at its S edge. The sides of the ditch are steep and contain traces of stone revetting. Outside this ditch lies an earthen bank (Wth 10m). It is round topped and runs for a distance of 120m from the W cliff edge. Much stone is visible within this bank, especially along the cliff face. This may be all that remains of the 'well-marked gangway' mentioned by Westropp (1912a). Outside this bank lies a ditch (Wth 1.5m; D 1.6m). A faint counterscarp bank lies outside this again, but is visible only for a length of 50m from the W edge. To the S of these defences a deep rock-cut trench runs parallel to the W cliff edge (Wth 1.5m; D 2-4m). Its function is unclear but it may once have formed part of the entrance to the site. Many paths and causeways cross the defences and it is not possible to say where the original entrance was. A collapsed circular hut site (MA001-002002-) near the E end of the outermost bank and the nearby souterrain (MA001-002003-) may be part of the entrance. The souterrain is visible as a rock cut entrance (0.8m sq.) leading into a rock-cut tunnel. It was not investigated further and does not seem to have been noticed by Westropp. The interior of the site is visible from the mainland. It slopes steeply down to the E, and besides several mounds of earth no features are visible. It overlooks the lower headland to the E.
The monument was briefly described by Westropp (1912a, 122-126) and does not seem to have deteriorated much since his visit in 1904. It is marked on the 1921 OS 6-inch map.

This description is derived from the MA thesis of Markus Casey 1999 The coastal promontory forts of Ireland. A survey of counties Sligo, Mayo, Galway and Clare. Unpublished MA thesis, National University of Ireland, Galway and three reports that were funded by the Heritage Council (2001, 2002, 2003). In this instance the entry has been revised.

Date of upload: 5 December 2018

References

Casey, M. 1999 The coastal promontory forts of Ireland. A survey of counties Sligo, Mayo, Galway and Clare. Unpublished MA thesis, National University of Ireland, Galway.

Westropp, T.J. 1912 The promontory forts and early remains of the coasts of county Mayo. Part 1. The North Coast (Tirawley and Erris) (continued) Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 42, no. 2, 101-139.