Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

In reclaimed pasture, located on top of a small NE–SW ridge, within a field system 9MA121-153006-). When inspected in 1984 this cashel consisted of a roughly circular enclosure (70m N–S; 73m E–W) outlined by the remains of a substantial stone wall which was evident as grass-covered wall footings (c. 2m; H c. 0.5m). The wall appeared to have consisted of internal and external facings of large stones with a core of smaller stones. There was a gap at S but it was not clear if this was an original entrance. The interior was subdivided by fairly substantial grass-covered remains of stone walls forming two large subdivsions at the S, the interior of which were at a lower level to the rest of the cashel interior. The NW quadrant of the cashel was at a higher level than the rest of the interior, forming a roughly level platform outlined by an irregular scarp. A rectangular house (MA121-153004-) was located just inside the cashel wall at SW, and there was a possible hut site (MA121-153005-) against the inner face of the cashel wall at N. (SMR file, 1984). It was also recorded in a series of aerial photographs aerial photos (CUCAP BDT 68, 69, 70, 88, 89; GSI M 196, print 19-20) (SMR file). Lavelle (1994, 43, no. 259) recorded that it was 'Levelled during land reclamation (NMI).' There is another cashel (121-153001-) c. 40m to W.

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 14 January 2015

References

Lavelle, D. 1994 An Archaeological Survey of Ballinrobe and District including Lough Mask and Lough Carra. Lough Mask and Lough Carra Tourist Development Association.