Promontory fort - coastal

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated in an area of undulating fertile pasture along the western shore of Broadhaven. The view from the site is good along the coast and inland. An E-facing sub-rectangular headland measuring 35m in width and 90m in length was defended by a large slightly curving earthen bank with traces of an external fosse. The bank averages 2.5m in height and is 10m thick at the base. It is round topped and has been dug into recently in several places. A gap near the northern cliff edge is the only indication of an entrance feature in the bank. A 5m wide depression running along the outside of the bank covered with dense vegetation may be the remains of a filled in fosse. A 6m wide rise near the centre suggests that a causeway crossed the fosse at this point. The interior of the site undulates but no features are visible. The sea is accessible from the interior though with difficulty. This site had not been previously recorded.

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 Unpublished MA thesis, National University of Ireland, Galway.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 Unpublished MA thesis, National University of Ireland, Galway.