Big Fort

Situated on a slight NE-SW ridge on the lower NW-facing slope of Saddle Hill, and overlooking Lough Melvin which lies to the NE. This is a grass-covered circular area (int. diam. 113m N-S; 109m E-W) defined by an earthen bank (Wth 3m; H 0.3m) N-E, which is mainly reduced to a scarp elsewhere. The bank is separated by a fosse (Wth at S 4m; at E 7m) from an outer bank (Wth 3.2m; H 1.2m at N). A lane occupies the fosse NW-N-SE and there is a limestone standing stone (H 0.7m) which is probably not ancient in the NE quadrant of the enclosure. An original entrance is not identified. A ring-barrow (LE008-003---) and mound barrow (LE008-002---) are c. 80m to the NNE and c. 90m to the N respectively. See the attached aerial view taken from the N. The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Leitrim' compiled by Michael J. Moore (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2003). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 September 2008

A local fairy fort (ringfort/rath); wider significance not recorded.