Ecclesiastical enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, located on an expanse of relatively level ground, with gently rising ground immediately to W, and a slight fall of ground to E. There is a stream c. 100m to E and a spring well c. 100m to N. Views of the surrounding landscape are now largely obscured by trees planted on the borders of the field, and by a forestry planation to N. Nevertheless, the cairn-topped peaks of the Ox Mountain range can be glimpsed in the distance to N, with the landmark silhouette of Ben Bulben beyond, and visible on the far horizon to S are the passage tomb-topped limestone ridges of Carrowkeel, and to SE, the looming outline of Kesh Corann, crowned by its cairn (SL040-008----).
MacDonagh (1936, 198) records the tradition of a church, located near Newport House in 'a field called Killack, the church of the flagstones. The church, however, has totally disappeared. The people of the locality say that the field was an old burial ground, and for that reason are afraid to pass through it after dark.'
There are no visible traces of a church (SL033-167----) or graveyard (SL033-167001-), but the levelled outline of a large circular enclosure (SL033-167002-) can be traced at ground level. According to local information, this enclosure is the site traditionally known as ‘Killack’ (pers. comm. Anthony Kitchen, November 2017).
The enclosure consists of a very slightly raised, circular area (diam. 91m E−W; 87m N−S) defined by a low, broadly sloping scarp (Wth 3-4m; ext. H 0.5-0.6m), representing a levelled bank. The scarp remains relatively well defined NW−S, but at SW−NE it is reduced to a barely discernible undulation. There is low area or possible break (Wth c. 3m) at NW. The ground (Wth c. 4m) immediately outside the scarp at S−SW is damp and marked by rushes and yellowish grass. This might indicate the presence of an enclosing fosse, however, it cannot be traced elsewhere around the circuit. The interior has a very slight slope from W down to E, and is grass-covered and featureless. An old quarry pit (c. 20m N−S; c. 15m E−W; D 1-1.5m) abuts the SE edge of the enclosure, partly truncating the enclosing scarp. A post-and-wire fence extends across the N end of the enclosure on a NE−SW axis.
The large size of this enclosure, coupled with the local traditions of a church, graveyard and the placename ‘Killack’, suggests the possibility that this is an Early Medieval ecclesiastical enclosure. There is a cliff-edge fort (SL033-022001-) located 725m to W. Another large circular enclosure (SL033-077001-), with a diameter of c. 100m, is located c. 1.5km to SW.

Attached images:
SL033-167002-_01.JPG Enclosing scarp viewed from NE
SL033-167002-_02.JPG Enclosing scarp viewed from E

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 6 November 2017

References

MacDonagh, J.C. 1936 History of Ballymote and the parish of Emlaghfad. Dublin.