What is recorded here

Indicated is a fairy fort in County Mayo, Ireland, occupying a grassy rise above the Sonnagh River. Its earthen scarp still stands twenty metres across, marking a boundary between human pasture and something older. The river has since moved south, leaving the fort suspended on its private hill, watched by gorse and silence.

In pasture, located on top of a rise, overlooking a bend in the Sonnagh River c. 70m to S; in recent times, the course of the river has been diverted and it now lies further to S. Broadly oval area (25.5m NW-SE; 20.5m NE-SW) defined by an earthen scarp (Wth slope 2.5m at NE, 4.6m at SW; ext. H 1.4m at NE, 2.4m at SW). The scarp is well defined, and at S−NW utilises the steep natural fall of ground. A low bank (Wth 1-1.5m; H 0.3-0.4m) tops the scarp at S−NW, but this may be a later field boundary. A slight depression is evident immediately outside the scarp at NE−SE, possibly indicating a fosse. There is a poorly defined low area (Wth c. 2m) in the scarp at SE and narrow eroded gaps at N and NE, but it is unclear if any of these indicates the location of an original entrance. The interior is level in the W and centre, sloping down from there gently to NE−E, and more steeply to SE. A depression or trench (L 4m; Wth 2m; D 1m) cuts through the scarp at NW; it is largely obscured by overgrowth and its significance is uncertain. A road skirts the rath at SW−WNW. A field boundary, shown intersecting with the S edge of the rath on the 1919 OS 6-inch map, has been removed. Thick hummocks of grass cover the interior; the slope of scarp on the W half is covered by gorse and broom. Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 7 December 2020

This remains an important historical record, but the official description says the monument is no longer visible or has been destroyed. The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.