Field boundary in Poll Raithní (sweeney)

On the shoreline of a small cove on the E side of Achill Sound. A drystone wall (L c. 70m; Wth c. 1.5m; H 0.5-1.5m) constructed of a layer of large stones (L c. 0.6-0.9m) laid end to end on top of which smaller stones (L c. 0.4-0.6m) are laid. The wall describes a shallow arc curving gently from E to S to W, more or less mirroring the line of the eroding peat banks which line the shore. Along its E extent it overlies beach sand and towards its W end it overlies marine clay. The date of the wall is uncertain; it is unclear if it extends beneath the peat banks that line the shore. It is possible that the wall was built in relatively recent times in an attempt to limit coastal erosion. Towards its NW end, a 9.5m length of the wall is overlain with heaps of builders’ rubble. This may have been a modern attempt to reinforce the wall to prevent erosion. Another wall (MA055-018----) lies c. 10m to E and there is a third wall (MA055-020----) c. 10m to N. Compiled by Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 3rd April 2013