Promontory fort - coastal

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated in an area of fertile undulating pasture and sand dunes. The surrounding land is covered with traces of old cultivation ridges and the view from the site is good. A smaller site lies immediately to the W (MA009-013001-). A broad low triangular S facing headland 90m across by 100m long shows traces of a deep fosse at the eastern edge of the headland running for a distance of 18m before diminishing to a faint depression. It reappears again as a substantial ditch 8m from the western end. A faint earthen bank can be traced running across the headland between the two lengths of fosse. It is possible that this is an example of an unfinished fortification which may have been abandoned during construction, possibly in favour of the smaller site lying immediately to the W. The faint line might be the remains of a bank marking out the position of the intended defences. The interior of the site is featureless except for traces of old lazybeds. The sea is accessible from the interior.

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 Unpublished MA thesis, National University of Ireland, Galway.

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 Unpublished MA thesis, National University of Ireland, Galway.