Ringfort - cashel

The National Monuments Service's description

In rough rocky pasture, on a S-facing slope. An oval steep-sided earthen platform (31.2m NE-SW; 35.7m NW-SE; H 3.45m), probably incorporating a natural knoll, with a step (H 1m) around its base. Traces of a possible stone revetment for the step are evident at W and SW. The top of the platform is enclosed by a ruinous sod-covered wall (Wth 3m; int. H 1m; ext. H 1.2m) with a rubble core and facing of large limestone blocks. A berm (Wth 2m) was noted at the external base of the wall W-NNW. The western section of the wall is topped by a post-and-wire fence. A blocked-up gap in the wall at SE is possibly an entrance. A broad fosse (Wth 3.2m) encircles the base of the mound S-N; a low terrace (Wth 3.3m; H 0.6m) is evident E-SE. A sod-covered stony bank (Wth 4.5m; int. H 0.7m; ext. H 1.5m) skirts the outer edge of the fosse SSW-NW and is incorporated into a field boundary for a short section at S. A rectangular area (5.3m N-S; 7.5m E-W) enclosed by earthen bank (Wth 3.4m; int. H 0.5m; ext. H 1.5m) abuts the external face of the outer wall. The interior is level though strewn with sod-covered stones; some coniferous trees grow in the N third. Several field-clearance heaps were noted and at E, adjacent to the enclosing wall, is a small hollow now partially infilled with stones. At SSE, close to the inner side of the enclosing wall, is a circular drystone-built structure (1.4m N-S; 1m E-W; H 0.6m). Drystone field boundaries radiate from the base of the platform at N, S, SW, W and NW.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005).

Date of upload: 18 January 2008