Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ringfort - rath
Meelick (gallen By.), County Mayo, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Meelick (gallen By.)
- County
- Mayo
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Indicated
- Coordinates
- 53.92522, -9.02192
- SMR number
- MA071-027002-
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, located on a rise which provides good views E-wards over rolling grassland, and within the N half of a possible large enclosure (MA071-027003-). Meelick round tower (MA071-028003-) is visible 400m to SSE.
A roughly circular platform (30.7m E−W; c. 30m N−S) defined by a scarp (ext. H 1.45m at NE, 1m at S), which has been cut almost to the vertical and faced with drystone walling. The stone facing is relatively intact along the N arc and in parts at SE, but elsewhere is largely tumbled. A break (Wth 3m) in the scarp at W opens onto a road which skirts the W arc of the enclosure.
The interior slopes gently down from the perimeter to centre, giving it a slightly saucer-shaped profile. There is no visible trace of a chapel (MA071-027001-) which is shown in the centre of the interior on the 1838 OS 6-inch map. A bullaun stone (MA071-027004-) was found in the NE quadrant of the interior.
This enclosure is most likely a rath, which has been modified in the modern era. The drystone facing on the enclosing scarp is probably contemporary with a ruined vernacular cottage/buildings located immediately outside the enclosure at NW.
The perimeter is ringed by hawthorn and blackthorn, and blackthorn scrub encroaches on the interior.
Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy
Date of upload: 2 July 2021
Nearby in the register
- Chapelunder 1 mi
- Bullaun stoneunder 1 mi
- Enclosure - large enclosureunder 1 mi
- Fulacht fiaunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.