What is recorded here

Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Markree Demesne is a fairy fort or earthen ringfort in Markree Demesne, County Sligo, Ireland. The D-shaped site measures about 32 metres by 18.5 metres and sits on the edge of undulating grassland within a dense strip of woodland bordering the Markree Castle estate. A broad low earthen bank defines the curving side, while parallel field banks and drains mark the straight side where the rath meets the estate boundary.

On the edge of an open expanse of undulating grassland, obscured within a dense strip of woodland, rhododendron and scrub along the boundary of the Markree Castle estate (SL026-038----). A slightly raised level D-shaped area (dims. c. 32m NE-SW; 18.5m NW-SE) defined on the curving SW-NE side by a broad low earthen bank (Wth 3m; int. H 0.35m; ext. H 1.25m) with an external shallow fosse (Wth c. 3m) at SW. On the straight SE side the rath is truncated by a substantial field boundary (Wth 3m; H 1m) flanked by field drains (Wth 2m; D 0.55m). The field boundary extends NE-SW parallel to the estate boundary wall 6m to SE. An identical parallel field bank flanked by field drains lies 2.5m to NE and appears to respect the curve of the rath. These parallel field banks are estate features apparently to delimit the woodland strip that borders the estate. 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

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