Enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, on top of a narrow ridge with excellent views. A low subcircular platform (c. 40m N-S; c. 37.5m E-W) defined by a scarp (H 0.3m at W; 0.5m at E) from which stones protrude randomly. Set 4.5-6.5m in from the scarp edge is a wall (Wth 0.9m; H 0.8m), covered in blackthorn bushes, enclosing an oval area (28.5m N-S; 23m E-W) on the platform. At the base of the inner face of this wall from SW-N is a low terrace (Wth 2.2m) raised 0.2-0.3m above the interior ground level. In the interior, slightly NW of centre, is an ill-defined roughly circular rise (diam. 6-7m; H 0.3m). Appended to the ESE arc of the enclosure is a diamond-shaped area (40m NW-SE; 38m NE-SW) defined by a scarp (H 1.5-1.7m) with remnants of stone facing. The enclosed space encompasses the SE end of the ridge. The W half is level but it slopes gently down from the centre to ESE following the ridge slope. According to local tradition, this enclosure is known as 'Castle Ida'.

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