Fulacht fia

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on the southern bank of a small stream close to the sea cliffs on the north-eastern coast. The fulacht fia lies 150m WSW of ‘Doonallia Fort’ (MA075-005001-) but is not visible from it. Overlooked by higher ground to N on the opposite bank of the stream, the site is situated at the north-eastern foot of a small natural rise in which natural rock is exposed.

What is visible is a steep-sided but natural-looking grassy mound (NW mound), mantled in bracken in summer. It measures WNW–ESE c. 3m, NNE–SSW 2.1m and is up to 0.8m in height on NNE side. At its WNW end, in a small patch of disturbed soil, small heat-fractured stones and traces of charcoal are exposed. A number of rounded boulders also protruded from the base of the mound in this area. There are also some traces of burnt stone exposed on a tiny hummock 1.7m to SW of these boulders. Immediately SE of this mound is another of similar character (SE mound). Although larger (NNE–SSW c. 5.5m, WNW–ESE c.4.1m), it is less well defined, fading into the base of the natural rise to W and SW: rock outcrop is exposed here. It is nevertheless up to 1.1m in height along NE side and is well defined from N through E to SSE. A number of small boulders protrude from its base at NNW where it almost touches the north- western mound. While these two mounds do not form any obvious crescent-shape or U-shape in plan, there is an irregularly shaped hollow area between them that opens towards the stream to N. This hollow is flanked on S side by natural rock (H 0.5m) exposed in the face of the natural rise.

Edited by Paul Gosling, Conleth Manning and John Waddell. (Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. 2007). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated.

Date of upload: 12 September 2018