Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ringfort - rath
Fountainhill, County Mayo, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Fountainhill
- County
- Mayo
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Coordinates
- 53.55783, -9.14513
- SMR number
- MA121-199----
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 pasture, located on a NW−facing terrace on a low hill. A modern road skirts the base of the hill at W−NW
This rath is not shown on any edition of the OS 6-inch maps. It has been partly levelled and the remains are now very low profile at ground level.
Subcircular area (38m N−S; 41m E−W) defined by a levelled bank. At W−E the bank is reduced to a broad, low undulation (Wth 3-4), which merges with the natural fall of ground at the terrace edge; at NW the terrace slope drops 1.7m to lower ground. At SE−SW the bank is evident as an inward-sloping scarp (int. H c. 0.7m), which cuts across the rising hill slope. Stones protrude from the sod in parts around the perimeter. A low area (Wth c. 3-4m) on the perimeter at E, with a gently external slope, may be an original entrance. There is another, poorly defined low area at SW.
In the NW quadrant, a low scarp (H 0.45m) curves NW−N in a shallow arc (L c. 7m), with a large stone or bedrock protruding from the N end. It marks a drop in interior ground level along the NW perimeter of the terrace.
There are two enclosure (MA121-068----; MA121-069----) 225m and 350m to SE and E, respectively, and Kilkeeran church (MA121-065001-) and ecclesiastical enclosure (MA121-065003-) are located 450m to W.
Attached images:
MA121-199----_01.JPG Viewed from E
MA121-199----_02.JPG Viewed from W
MA101-199----_03.JPG Levelled bank on E arc
Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy
Date of upload: 31 March 2021
Nearby in the register
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
- Ritual site - holy wellunder 1 mi
- Churchunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.