Promontory fort - coastal

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on the SW corner of a broad headland immediately to the E of Dooghkeeghan Castle (MA004-003002-). The area is one of mountainous bogland and poor quality pasture with sheer cliffs along the coast. The view from the site across Broadhaven is good, but it is overlooked by higher ground to the N. A crescent-shaped S-facing headland measuring 33m long by 21m across its broadest point is defended by a single earthen bank and ditch. The bank averages 8m in width and stands 2m above the level of the interior. It is flat-topped and some material has been removed from it recently. A 6m wide flat-bottomed ditch runs along the outside of the bank. It is 1.5m deep below the top of the bank, and the steep uphill slope of the ground outside the fort makes its outer edge indistinct. A causeway crosses the defences near the western edge and a faint rise is also visible in the centre of the ditch. The interior is featureless and narrows to a point only 4m across at the southern tip.

These descriptions are 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 Unpublished MA thesis, National University of Ireland, Galway. In this instance the entry has been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

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 Unpublished MA thesis, National University of Ireland, Galway.