Fairy fort / stone ringfort in Gleninsheen

On a short flat terrace on the N-facing slopes of a karst ridge within a multiperiod field system (CL005-104001-), with views to the E. Hachured on the 1842 and 1916 eds. of the OS 6-inch maps. Listed as a ‘Rectangular enclosure’ in the RMP (1996). Described by Bowmer (2019, 74) as a ‘heavy-walled cashel’. A moderately well-preserved rectangular cashel (33m SW-NE; 31m SE-NW) defined by an externally and internally faced wall (Wth 2-2.6m; max. ext. H 2.1m; max. H of int. facing 0.35m) of vertically laid slabs and blocks, occasionally roughly dressed. The NE corner is rounded and the NW corner angular; the other two corners are missing. There appears to be two skins in the facing of the NE wall and a rubble-covered, splayed gap near centre of NE wall probably marks the entrance. Two possible house sites are located on the interior, one in the centre (CL005-102002-) and another in the SW corner (CL005-102004-). More modern looking pens also occur on the walls, at E and N; in the interior at SW, SE and NW; and against the exterior at NW. A lighter-walled rectangular cashel (CL005-102003-) is appended to the NW side and 30m to the NW of it is another rectangular cashel (CL005-101----). A later circular enclosure lies c. 85m to the SE. The following images have been uploaded: CL005-102----_01.jpg General view from SE CL005-102----_02.jpg SW wall from NE CL005-102----_03.jpg SW wall from SE CL005-102----_04.jpg NE wall from SE CL005-102----_05.jpg SW corner from SW (all photos: Tim Bowmer) Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Ros Ó Maoldúin Date of upload: 14 February 2023