What is recorded here

Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Carrowkilleen (kilmaine By.) stands at the east end of a narrow field, its oval bank spanning almost the full north-west width before dropping into a damp valley. The earth rises slightly on the north and west, steepens into a scarp on the east, and fades along the south, while a shallow ditch marks the southwest edge. Later cultivation cut ridges across the interior and a drystone wall crosses the south, but the original shape still holds the slope like a forgotten room.

In pasture, straddling an E-facing slope, which drops into a flat valley of damp ground. The rath is located at the E end of a narrow rectangular field, and extends almost the full N−W width of the field. Oval area (50.5m E−W; 61.5m) defined by an earthen bank. The bank has been partly levelled; it is evident now at SW−NW as broad rise with slight internal lip (Wth c. 4m; int. H 0.1m; ext. H 0.8m), on the N arc a broad low rise (Wth c. 4m; int. H 0.4m; ext. H 0.45m) and at NE−SE as a scarp (Wth slope c. 5m; ext. H 1.4m) cut into the ridge slope. The S arc is poorly defined. There is a fosse (Wth 2m; ext. D 0.4m) immediately outside the bank at SW−W. This cannot be traced elsewhere around the circuit. A relict field bank, barely discernible now at ground level, extends from the N terminal of the fosse across the field to W. It is unclear if the fosse is a contemporary with the rath or if it relates to later cultivation activities. The rath interior slopes markedly from centre down to the perimeter at E, mirroring the natural fall of ground. Remnants of cultivation ridges traverse the enclosure on an E-W axis and are also visible in the surrounding field; these clearly post-date the enclosure. A drystone field wall/property boundary crosses the S edge of the enclosure. Notified to NMS by Jean-Charles Caillère Attached images: MA110-089----_01.JPG Viewed from NW MA110-089----_02.JPG Viewed from SW MA110-089----_03. JPG Bank with external fosse at SW MA110-089----_04.JPG Viewed from E, showing steeply sloping interior Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 19 March 2021

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.