Promontory fort — inland in Benagh

Situated above the confluence of two small rivers, a triangular headland adapted to form a promontory fort. The interior of the fort is a roughly circular area (max. dims. 24.3m E-W, 22.8m N-S) delimited by an earthen bank and external fosse which extend in an arc from WNW-ENE, cutting off the interior from the landward side, and by a scarp (H 2-5m) on all other sides. There is no trace of an entrance or causeway across the fosse, but this is probably due to the degraded nature of the site. Possible circular hut site (LH008-051003-) (int. diam. 3.5m) in centre of interior, noted during field survey in 1970 and 1982. The site was levelled in 1985 in the course of land reclamation, and all surface features were removed. The tradition of a possible souterrain (LH008-051002-) in the interior of the fort proved to be correct, as it was opened during the removal of the promontory fort. This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 8/1985). The following description is derived from both the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Louth' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1986) and the 'Archaeological Survey of County Louth' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1991). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 17 July 2007