Promontory fort - coastal

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated in an area of mountainous bogland on a N facing headland flanked by sheer cliffs on both sides. The view from the site is spectacular and it is overlooked by higher ground to the S. This site is not marked on either edition of the OS maps and had not been previously recorded. A small triangular promontory measuring 41m long by 14m wide was defended by a single bank and ditch with traces of a counterscarp bank also visible. The straight earthen bank is 3m wide and has nearly been reduced to a scarp on its inner face, where it is only 0.4m high. There is no trace of any stone revetting and a narrow sheep track is the only trace of an entrance into the interior. The external ditch is 1.65m deep and 5m wide across the top. Its base is flat and 0.8m wide. The poorly defined earthen counterscarp bank stands 1.2m above the base of the ditch. The interior slopes gently down to the west and is quite featureless. It is covered with a thin layer of bog.

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 Unpublished MA thesis, National University of Ireland, Galway.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 Unpublished MA thesis, National University of Ireland, Galway.