Bawn

The National Monuments Service's description

Immediately to N of Murneen castle (MA0091-017001), in an expanse of lowlying, rush-grown, damp pasture.
This possible bawn is not shown on the 1838 OS 6-inch map; on the 1920 edition the SW angle and W side are outlined with hachuring. It consists of a rectangular area (c. 70m NNW−SSE; c. 40m ENE-WSW) encompassing a roughly N−S elevation rising from the surrounding damp ground. It survives much as it was in the early decades of the 20th century when first recorded by Knox (1913-14, 200-202), who suggested that it may be the remains of a bailey or bawn associated with the castle. The ruined castle stands at the SE angle. The W side of the enclosure has a well defined scarp (H 0.8m) with a broad external fosse (Wth top 6.5m at top, 3.6m at base; D 0.5m). A slight rise (Wth c. 3.6m) on the outer edge of the fosse may be a levelled bank. The N side is also defined by a scarp, but the E side is low and poorly defined. Approximately mid-way along the W side, there is a low rectangular rise (c. 11m E−W; 5m N−S) of uncertain significance. The N and S sides are defined by low scarps (H 0.45m); the W side coincides with the bawn scarp; the E side is indistinct.
Knox also noted an extensive array of linear banks or ‘ramparts’ and ditches (MA091-017002-) to W and S−SW.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 11 February 2022

References

Knox, H.T. 1913-14 Three more Mayo earthworks. Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society 8, 199-206.