Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ringfort - rath
Gorteen (gallen By.), County Mayo, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Gorteen (gallen By.)
- County
- Mayo
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Hachured
- Coordinates
- 53.92667, -9.08842
- SMR number
- MA071-002----
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
In pasture, on a rise/undulating on the top of a ridge, with good views over the surrounding undulating landscape.
Broadly oval platform (32m NNW−SSE; 29m ENE−WSW) defined by a scarp (ext. H 1.8m at W, 1.95m at E) and enclosed by a fosse (Wth 3.4m at W, 3.7m at E) with an external bank (Wth 3.4m at W, c. 5m at E; int. H 0.2-0.4m; ext. H 1.45m at W, 1m at E). The scarp retains a hint of a raised internal lip (int. H 0.3m) at NE−E. The external bank on the E arc is partly levelled to a broad and low rise.
A gap (Wth 2m) in the scarp at NE and a corresponding gap in the outer bank probably mark an original entrance. There may be a causeway across the fosse here, but ground disturbance makes this uncertain.
The level interior is grassy, with brambles and thorn bushes encroaching in parts; the perimeter is thickly ringed with hawthorn, blackthorn and brambles. There is a quarry pit in the hill slope immediately to NW of the rath. Another rath (MA073-003001-) is located 100m to SE.
Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy
Date of upload: 24 June 2021
Nearby in the register
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
- Souterrainunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
- Souterrainunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.