Fulacht fia

The National Monuments Service's description

In damp, rush-grown pasture, located immediately adjacent to a spring-fed pool, in a natural hollow of damp ground, bordered in a sheltering arc at NE−SW by the steeply rising slope of a ridge.
This fulacht fia is evident as a roughly circular, well-defined, compact mound (15.7m E-W; 17m N-S; H 0.65m) composed of heat-shattered stone fragments in a matrix of black, peaty charcoal-rich soil. A shallow central hollow (2m E−W; 3.5-4m N−S) on the top of the mound opens to N facing the pool, and may indicate the location of a trough. A small semicircular depression (max. dim. c. 1m) evident on the SE side of the mound is likely to be the result of relatively recent disturbance. A field drain (Wth 1.2-1.6m; D 0.4-0.5m) cuts across the SE edge of the mound, and extends beyond it to NNE and to NW; burnt stone and charcoal fragments are visible in the section face in parts. The fulacht fia is distinguished by its covering of short, green mossy sod, amidst the surrounding rough grass and rushes.
A post-and-wire fence, which borders the pool, clips the NW edge of the mound. The pool was used as a holy well (MA040-071----), known as Tober Patrick. A rath (MA040-070----) crowns a hillock c. 120m to WSW.

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 28 February 2019