Moated site

The National Monuments Service's description

On the S side of Derrymore Island in Lough Gara. In pasture, at the break of slope of a wooded scarp bordering the lakeshore. A rectangular area (27m N-S; 43.5m E-W), with rounded NE and NW corners, defined on the W, N and E sides by an earthen bank (Wth 2.4m; int. H 0.35m; ext. H 0.4m). The S side is defined by a scarp (H c. 1.3m) which merges with the steep natural slope (H c. 3.5m) down to the lakeshore. Midway along the bank on the N side is a small rectangular outward projection (c. 2m N-S; 7.5m E-W). There are breaks in the bank at W (Wth 5.7m), N (Wth 3.7m) and NE (Wth 3m). Outside the bank at the N end of the E side is a shallow wet depression (Wth c. 2m) marked by a growth of rushes. The interior slopes down gently from the centre to S and is crossed, off-centre to E, by a N-S field boundary. Hawthorn, blackthorn and hazel bushes cover the perimeter, much of the E third of the interior and the slope to S. A circular enclosure (SL047-010001-) is c. 50m to NE.

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