What is recorded here
Indicated is a ruined stone ringfort at the west end of a Mayo ridge, where a steep southern drop forces anyone inside to face the wide horizon rather than hide from it. Its circular wall, partly swallowed by later field boundaries, still stands eight courses high in places, with a single large boulder breaking the southern sequence like a forgotten marker. Local tradition speaks of an underground passage within the cashel, suggesting the visible fort may be only the upper chamber of a larger hidden shape.
In pasture, located at the W end of a ridge, with a steep fall of ground at S−SW and a more gradual, undulating slope at NW-N. The location provides good views, especially to S–W.
This cashel consists of a slightly raised circular area (32.4m N–S; 32.3m E–W) enclosed by a ruined drystone wall, incorporated into a later system of field walls.
At NE−S the external face of the enclosing wall survives to a height (H 0.8m–1m) of between four to seven courses of horizontally laid slabs and stones, with larger slabs used in the basal course. It appears to forms a facing on a scarp, and the top of the wall does not rise above internal ground level. At S the wall incorporates a single large boulder (Wth c. 1.4m; H 0.7m) that breaks the courses. At SSW–W the external wall-face is reduced to a single basal course of large boulders and slabs, and at W–N drystone walling (Wth 1.2m; ext. H 1.2-1.5m) of small and medium-sized stones, with a basal course of large stones, rests on a low earthen scarp (H 0.5m) -here the wall has a low, sod-covered internal stony lip (Wth 1.2m; int. H 0.5m).
A gap (Wth 1.4m) in the wall at E may be the original entrance. It is flanked by rough walling/large stones. Extending for a short distance from the gap into the interior is a linear depression or slightly sunken area (Wth c. 1.4m). Outside the gap there is a grass-covered rise (Wth 4-5m) incorporating boulders and field clearance debris. Field clearance heaps are also piled against, or close to the cashel wall at NE and SE.
A property wall, on a roughly N–S axis, bisects the cashel interior to E of centre. Another field wall bisects the W half of the interior roughly centrally, extending to WNW from the N−S property wall. To E of the N−S property wall, the interior shows evidence of disturbance, and is partly obscured by hawthorn bushes and brambles. There is a local tradition of a Man-made underground passage (MA072-082001-) in this part of the cashel. To W of the property wall, the interior is level and grassy. At WNW there is a large, ground-fast boulder. A large slab leans against the W side of the boulder; the base of the slab rests in a shallow hollow.
Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy
Date of upload: 1 May 2021
The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.
- What survives
- Recorded monument
Places near here
Saint Patrick's Catholic Churchchurch/chapel · 1.0 mi
East Mayo Brigade MonumentMemorial · 1.8 mi
Kilkelly ChurchChurch · 1.9 mi
IndicatedEnclosure · 2.0 mi
Derrymeel FortFairy fort / earthen ringfort · 2.6 mi
Rath Castle in ruinsCastle, tower house · 3.7 mi
Thorn CaveCave · 3.8 mi
Kiltimagh MuseumMuseum · 4.4 mi
I'll Send You The FareMemorial · 4.5 mi
CastleCastle, unclassified · 5.0 mi
Brabazon WoodsForest · 5.1 mi