Rathwanowen, fairy fort or earthen ringfort in County Mayo

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What is recorded here

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In pasture, located on a broad terrace on steep N-facing slope, giving extensive views W–N–E. This rath is named ‘Rathwanowen’ on the 1838 and 1922 OS 6-inch maps; it is shown as circular on the 1838 edition; on the 1922 edition it appears subrectangular and is incorporated into later field boundaries. It consists of a raised sub-circular or oval area (estimated diam. c. 35-40m) defined by an earthen scarp (Wth slope 3m; ext. H 1.7m, at NE) and enclosed by a fosse (Wth 2.8-3m at NE), with remnants at NNW–NE of an external bank (Wth c. 4m; int. H 0.8m; ext. H 1.3m). Later field fences appear to have either truncated or incorporated sections of the external bank at E, SE and W. The original entrance may be at the ENE where there is a low area in the scarp, corresponding with a hint of a causeway across the fosse. The interior and perimeter are engulfed in a dense thicket of blackthorn that impeded inspection of the rath. A number of low stony mounds glimpsed beneath the overgrowth in the interior appear to be the result of field clearance. There is another rath (MA015-045----) located c. 150m to WSW.

From the National Monuments Service (Archaeological Survey of Ireland) record MA015-046

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Photo credits

Maker not stated on source page, en.wikipedia.org
Maker not stated on source page, www.alamy.com
Maker not stated on source page, www.gettyimages.com
Maker not stated on source page, commons.wikimedia.org
Maker not stated on source page, www.pinterest.com
Maker not stated on source page, www.ibelieve.com
National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
Killala GAA Club, via Connaught Telegraph; individual photographer not named, www.con-telegraph.ie

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