What is recorded here

Indicated is a circular earthen fort in County Mayo, preserved beneath pasture and hawthorn rather than forgotten. Its steep outer bank still rises against the falling ground, while a narrow inner lip marks the edge of a space once tight enough to hold lives, tools and decisions. A laneway may have skirted it toward a lost farmstead, suggesting the fort remained useful long after its first purpose faded.

In pasture, straddling the SW-facing slope of a rise, with good views over the surrounding undulating landscape. There is a stream 100m to SW. Raised circular area (34m N−S; 34.4m E−W) defined by an earthen scarp (ext. H 0.9m at NE; 1.9m at SW). The scarp has a steep external slope at SW−W, enhanced by the natural fall of ground. It is incorporated into a later field boundary on the NW arc, where a laneway once skirted the rath leading to a now ruined farmstead 100m to NE. A low, narrow internal lip (Wth 0.6m; int. H 0.4m) of earth and stone tops the scarp, most clearly defined on the E arc. There is a break (Wth 2m) in the scarp at NNE; this may be the site of an original entrance but now has the appearance of being relatively modern, allowing tractor access to the interior. A low area or slump (Wth 2.6m) in the scarp at S is another possible site of an original entrance. Interior ground level is highest in the SW quadrant, with a slight slope down from there to N and SE. Grass cover, with some light hawthorn growth around the perimeter. Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 31 March 2021

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