What is recorded here

Pig Island, a narrow ridge off the Mayo coast, still carries a straight stone wall across its centre. The sea has taken the land that once connected it to the mainland, leaving the fort chambered in salt wind and forgetfulness. To stand inside that small circular room is to be held by a dead region, surrounded by water but still answering the pressure of the land that disappeared.

Situated at the centre of Pig Island at a point where the island is c. 30m across. This possible site lies on the island off the northern coast of Mayo in a remote area of mountainous bog. A stone wall can be seen from air cutting off the northern part of this long ridge-backed island. The island is inaccessible and was once probably joined to the mainland. No other features are visible on it. Westropp writes that he heard the island was walled, but assumed it to be natural (1912b, 121). It is not marked on the OS maps. These descriptions are derived from the MA thesis of Markus Casey 1999 The coastal promontory forts of Ireland. A survey of counties Sligo, Mayo, Galway and Clare. Unpublished MA thesis, National University of Ireland, Galway and three reports that were funded by the Heritage Council (2001, 2002, 2003). In this instance the entry has been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 5 December 2018

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