What is recorded here

Indicated is a fairy fort in County Mayo, Ireland, occupying a narrow spine of raised ground above a drained lake basin. Its irregular oval measures thirty metres east-west and twenty-two metres north-south, bounded partly by a steep natural scarp and partly by later stone and earth field fences. The site preserves an old human boundary, yet local tradition assigns it to fairy occupation, suggesting the living and hidden share the same ground.

In undulating pasture, straddling a narrow spine of raised ground, with a steep fall of ground to NNE, overlooking a natural lake basin, now drained. An irregular oval-shaped area (30m E–W; 22m N–S) defined NW–ENE by a broad curving scarp (H 2m; Wth slope 4m), which is cut quite vertically in parts and is enhanced by the natural break of slope. The S half of the perimeter has been incorporated into later field fences: It is defined at E–S by a straight stone fence (Wth c. 0.8m; H 0.5-0.8m) on a NE–S axis, outside which is a sloping berm of earth (Wth 1.5-2m); at SW–W there is an earth and stone field fence (Wth 2.4m; int. H 0.8m; ext. H 1.75m) with an internal field ditch (Wth 1m), which describes a shallow curve respecting the original curve of the enclosure. Grass cover, with some blackthorn on perimeter to SE. Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 20 May 2022

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