Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ringfort - rath
Carrowgowan, County Mayo, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Carrowgowan
- County
- Mayo
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Hachured
- Coordinates
- 53.90392, -9.08504
- SMR number
- MA071-072----
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 rough to average pasture, located on top of a rise, with a fall of ground to NW, overlooking an expanse of lowlying wet ground. There is undulating/rising ground to E and SE.
Oval platform (34m NE−SW; 24. 3m NW−SE) defined by a scarp (H 2m), outside which it is encircled by a fosse (Wth 5m) and external bank (Wth 5.5m; int. H 0.6m; ext. H 1.2m, at SW).
The fosse and external bank are well preserved at S−NW, with a number of large stones the external bank incorporates at W. At NW−NE the fosse and external bank are reduced to a terrace (Wth 6.8m) defined on its outer edge by a scarp (H 1.2m). A field fence on a NW−SE axis overlies the fosse and truncates the external bank at NE−E. At E−SE the platform scarp has been adapted to serve as a field fence and the fosse and external bank are not evident.
The scarp is lowest (H 0.6m) at NE where it faces the spine of the ridge; this is a likely location for the original entrance.
The interior is level. There is a low stony heap (max. dim. 2m; H 0.3m) in the N half. A shallow roughly square depression (2m by 2m) abuts the scarp at W.
The perimeter is thickly ringed with blackthorn bushes, which are encroaching on the grassy interior at S and W.
Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy
Date of upload: 13 August 2021
Nearby in the register
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
- Souterrainunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.