Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Promontory fort - coastal
Leacht Mhurchaidh, County Mayo, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Leacht Mhurchaidh
- County
- Mayo
- Country
- Ireland
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Coordinates
- 54.32445, -9.62579
- SMR number
- MA005-002001-
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1753 "Mappa geographica Regni Hiberniae" (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
Situated in a remote area of mountainous bog. It is overlooked by higher ground to the S and is flanked by sheer cliffs on either side. A rectangular NW-facing headland measuring 250m long and 45m in width shows traces of having been defended by an earthen bank and ditch running across the neck. Several circular hutsites (MA005-002002-) can be seen along the eastern cliff edge in the interior. This site was seen from the air and was not visited on the ground. It is not marked on the OS maps.
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 Unpublished MA thesis, National University of Ireland, Galway.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 Unpublished MA thesis, National University of Ireland, Galway.
Nearby in the register
- Hut siteunder 1 mi
- Signal towerunder 1 mi
- Fortification3 mi
- Enclosure3 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.