What is recorded here
Indicated is a slightly raised circular pasture in County Mayo, Ireland, where a low earthen bank and later field walls still mark an old rath on a ridge overlooking undulating terrain. A faint linear rise crosses its centre, possibly following a hidden underground passage, while uncertain gaps in the scarp leave its true entrance unresolved. The place retains the quiet strangeness of a fairy fort, inviting wonder about the people who shaped, entered and forgot it beneath the grass.
In pasture, located on the gradual NW−facing slope of a ridge, giving extensive views over undulating terrain, with a stream valley 250m to NE. There is rising ground to SE−S.
Slightly raised circular area (33m N−S; 29.4m E−W) defined by a low earthen rise/bank or scarp.
At SSE the scarp is topped by a short length of drystone wall (L 7m; Wth 1m; H 0.6m). There is a low section of scarp (Wth 3m) at SSE and another low area (Wth 1.5m) at SW, but both are poorly defined and it is unclear if either is an original entrance.
Outside the scarp, the rath is encircled by a drystone wall (Wth 1m; H 0.6m), with the intervening gap between it and the rath varying in width from 1.8m at N to 3.8m at E−S; this appears to be a later field wall rather than an enclosing wall contemporary with the rath. Linear field walls radiate out from this circular wall at N, NE, S and SW. The field walls at NE and SW appear to have bordered a trackway, which skirted the SE arc of the rath, following a route through the space intervening between the rath and the outer encircling field wall.
A low linear rise (Wth 2.5m), with an NE-facing scarp (H 0.5m), extends on a NW−SE axis through the centre of the interior, marking the dividing line between the SW half and the slightly lower NE half of the interior. This rise may to follow the line of a Man-made underground passage (MA072-035002-) which extends through the interior.
Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy
Date of upload: 31 March 2021
The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.
- What survives
- Recorded monument
Places near here
IndicatedFairy fort / earthen ringfort · 863 yd
Enclosure in JohnsfortEnclosure · 955 yd
Lislackagh National Schoolschool · 1.4 mi
Saint Joseph's Catholic Churchchurch/chapel · 1.5 mi
Thorn CaveCave · 1.5 mi
Brabazon WoodsForest · 1.9 mi
Youth Memorial GardenMemorial · 2.2 mi
Procession Of The SoulsMemorial · 2.3 mi
HawthornHawthorn · 4.2 mi
Castle (in Ruins)Castle, unclassified · 4.4 mi
Hennigan's Heritage CentreHeritage attraction · 4.5 mi
Kiltimagh MuseumMuseum · 4.8 mi