Promontory fort - coastal

The National Monuments Service's description

Located on a sea promontory (dims. 170m ENE-WSW; 14m N-S at E to 59m N-S at W) covered in rough grass that slopes down to the N and E. The promontory is defended at W by an earthen bank (L 53m; Wth 4m; int. H 1.7m; ext. H 1.4m) with an outer fosse (Wth of base 3-4m) and an outer bank (L 91m; Wth 10-12m; ext. H 1.6m; H over the fosse 4m). There is an entrance through the outer bank (Wth 4.5m) and the inner bank (Wth 3m) with a causeway (Wth 3m) over the fosse. A raised rectangular feature (dims. 6.4m x 4.7m; H 0.3m) in the interior may be a hut site (Westropp 1906, 257 8). O’Conor (2003, 22-4) identifies the remains of two small ditches at the S end beyond the line of the defensive earthworks. They appear to be cut by the massive earthworks, which suggests to him that the large visible works are secondary and might have been re-fortified by Raymond le Gros in 1170 prior to an attack by the Ostmen of Waterford and their Irish allies (ibid. 24-5). The promontory fort is attached to a broader promontory (dims c. 400m ENE-WSW; c. 200m NNW-SSW) that is defended on the N (landward) side by the linear earthwork (WX050 015002-).

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload/revision: 12 February 2012

This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 192/1952).

References

Westropp, T.J. 1906 Notes on certain promontory forts in the counties of Waterford and Wexford. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 36, 239-58.