Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Brackcloonagh

In pasture, on the S-facing slope of a low hill which forms a dry island in a bog. A raised roughly oval area (36.8m N-S; 24m E-W) defined SW-NE by a narrow earthen bank with a slight internal lip (Wth 1.2m; int. H 0.35m; ext. H 0.85m) and elsewhere by a vertical scarp (H 0.65m) indenting slightly at E. The remains of an outer bank (Wth 1.5m; int. H 0.5m; ext. H 1m) and a narrow intervening fosse (Wth 1.2m) are evident only NE-SE, both following the indentation of the scarp. There are gaps in the bank at SSW (Wth 0.6m), SW (Wth 0.8m) and NE (Wth 1.7m). The 1941-2 OS 6-inch map and aerial photographs (IASAP, 3034217-8; GSIAP, G 225-4) show a continuation of the external bank for c. 15m to S to intersect with adjoining field boundaries but this has now been levelled. The interior is raised to compensate for the hillslope but still retains a slope down to S and SE. A circular enclosure (SL038-028003-) lies c. 20m to S in the adjoining field. 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