What is recorded here

Indicated is a fairy fort or earthen ringfort in Carrowreilly, County Sligo, Ireland. It occupies a pasture rise where the ground falls steeply toward Loughanlea at the northwest edge. The circular site measures 46 metres north-south and contains a man-made underground passage plus a hut site in the northeast quadrant. A curving scarp marks the lower slope between 30 and 60 metres from the outer bank along the west, south and east arcs.

In pasture, on a rise, with the ground falling steeply from the edge of the rath at NW to Loughanlea. A raised circular area (46m N-S) enclosed by a flat-topped inner earthen bank (Wth 8.3m; int. H 1.2m; ext. H 3.6m). A dry flat-bottomed intervening fosse (Wth 8.5m) is evident SSE-SE. A flat-topped outer earthen bank (Wth 3.6m; int. H 1.2m; ext. H 0.2m) is evident SSE-NE. The inner bank, which appears to contain numerous stones, is quarried into along the W arc. There is an entrance (Wth 1.8m) through the inner bank at SE which is partly revetted by stones. There is a Man-made underground passage (SL032-108002-) in the W portion of the interior and a hut site (SL032-108003-) in the NE quadrant. Between 30 and 60m away from the edge of the outer bank along the W, S and E arcs is a curving scarp (H 0.6-2m) on the lower slope of a rise. This scarp is cut by another rath (SL032-109----) c. 50m to SSE. 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

Carrowreilly is a likely early-medieval ringfort, characterized by a raised circular area with a substantial flat-topped earthen bank. Local tradition associates such sites with fairy folklore, often regarded as the dwellings of supernatural beings or places to be avoided.

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.