Ringfort - unclassified

The National Monuments Service's description

In reclaimed pasture, at the break of slope on the N edge of ridge top, with extensive views especially to N−E. The Mayo-Roscommon border is 135m to SE.
Depicted as a roughly circular embanked enclosure on the 1838 OS 6-inch map, and as a subrectangular hachured enclosure (max. dim. 18-22m), incorporated into linear field boundaries, on the 1916 edition.
This enclosure, possibly a rath, has been partly levelled and its full outline is now difficult to trace. The E arc (diam. 15-18m) is defined by a curving compact earth and stone bank (Wth 1.8m; int. H 0.3m; ext. H 0.5m), which forms a curve or kink in a roughly linear N-S field boundary. A break (Wth 2.3m) in the bank at the SE allows tractor access. A slight undulation at S appears to indicate the levelled S arc, but this cannot be traced at W. The N arc of the enclosure appears to have coincided with the natural break of slope of the ridge.
Towards the NW edge of the probable original extent of the enclosure, there are two conjoined hollows (MA103-040002-; MA103-040003-), on a N-S line, each ringed by a low rim/bank (Wth c. 2m; H 0.3-0.65m), producing an overall ‘figure of eight’ configuration. It is not clear what these are; they may be conjoined hut sites associated with the enclosure, or simply small quarry pits. The N hollow (overall diam. c. 5m) is more pronounced, the S hollow (diam. c. 3m) less clearly defined, but both are partly filled with loose field stones, and difficult to examine fully.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 11 November 2022